The cabaret drag darling with bite Tash York returns to Adelaide Fringe with her new show Love that for you! She’s here to tell you all the ways feisty queers respect your choices or totally disrespect them (ew crocs) but with affection. York is supported by The Red Red Wines (Peppy Smears & Vivian Fonteyn) rounding out her sound with live vocals, keys, and violin.
York is always a crowd favourite and doing the most every Adelaide Fringe so it’s a wonder she gives 100% every time. Her brash style of humour always makes the audience feel like they’re part of the joke, whether the joke is at her expense or an audience member’s (a few latecomers got the treatment the night of review). Performing an improvised number featuring an audience member, she puts a fresh spin on this clever party performance trick with some regular car keys. Audience interactions are where York’s quick wit shines as she takes aim at everything she is not a fan of, alongside back-and-forth banter with The Red Red Wines. Smears and Fonteyn not only lend musical prowess in spades, but the pair also offer their own hot takes with cheek (and humour too) to the delight of the audience.
York is known for crafty original lyrics to familiar tunes, but this show brings original music with support from musical direction by Smears. Songs range from the titular song and what gives her the ick to customer service woes and acronyms for parents of fur babies. A few strong hooks reminiscent of barbershop harmonies stick with you after the show. York delves into a more vulnerable note with struggles to fit in which she relates to a recent ADHD diagnosis alongside ongoing anxiety. Still, her music choices maintain an upbeat style as the show is consistently high energy. Vocals are on point after she downs a drink in professional-performer-totally-not-alcoholic fashion. The pacing and narrative of this cabaret work well for a high-spirited crowd as it moves through songs with breathers for repartee between the performers.
Tash York: Love that for You! closes Sunday March 3 at the Kingfisher in Gluttony. You can catch more of the glitz and chaos of Tash York at any of the Fringe shows she’s joining by following her on Instagram @TashYorkInIt .