Wonderland Spiegeltent, Fri 5 Mar

I love the way Reuben Kaye greets his audience as he waits by the entrance, then helps out ushering people into the best seats, and chats informally with people before the show begins; it’s quite endearing.

After much running commentary about issues of the day, a stream of gay jokes, and introductions to the band, venue and support staff he launches into a punchy rendition of the Stones’ classic Sympathy For The Devil while all the while prancing and dancing and scowling like the proud peacock that he is.

A feature of this show is how he transforms existing songs into vehicles for his humour and alternative lyrics espousing the Reuben Kaye outlook on life.

Kaye is part satirist, part stand-up comedian, part cabaret performer, and part performance poet. Pardon the cliché, but he is not just a pretty face. He has a lot to say about current issues, and clearly uses his stage as a platform to air strongly held views. Not surprisingly this is particularly so concerning the rights and struggles of the LGBTQ community.

Straying into the territory now made famous by Hannah Gadsby he quite bares his soul telling his own story about growing up gay, and uses another old classic, These Boots Are Made For Walking, to drive the point home in song.

I personally would have liked more songs but I think my favourite moment was his poetic description of his father’s hands as he watched him paint when Reuben was still a child.

Elegant and crass, artistic and vulgar; always engaging, Kaye crosses many boundaries in his dynamic style of cabaret.