Award-winning cabaret star Ada Campe performs a few flights of fancy and a deep dive into some serious silliness in a show about hope, heartbreak, and finding your happy place.
Described by the Scotsman as having a “magnetic presence and a ticklish way with words,” and by Sandi Toksvig as “genius,” I had high hopes for Ada Campe’s one-woman show, and I wasn’t disappointed. From her opening story about living in a “not yet up-and-coming area of London” to her final show tune, Campe takes us on a glorious trip through her early days on the cabaret circuit that is equal parts poignant and hysterically funny.
Beginning with her first gig as one part of a Strawberries and Cream double act, hired by a funfair to open their evening show, Campe paints a picture of a budding performer with big dreams and little life experience. Her first marriage to a most unsuitable partner makes for a fantastic story, as does her brief career pivot as a magician’s assistant, which builds the momentum for her first song—itself a work of art.
The show is about her regrets, and the biggest of these seems to be the time she spent away from the stage. Upon returning, she began to experiment with many art forms, including magic, and she delights the audience with a couple of tricks that are as funny as they are clever. Campe feeds off the energy of her audience and knows how to keep us completely engaged. When we weren’t laughing our heads off, we were listening eagerly to her tales of hope and betrayal and her wistful memories of her artist aunt May, whose letters provided a touching interlude during Campe’s costume changes.
No show called Big Duck Energy would be complete without a duck, and Campe uses said duck (which appears to be at least part-psychic) to spectacular effect. I’m not sure a description could do it justice, so instead, I urge you to book a ticket and see Campe live. You won’t regret it!
Reviewer: Triona Scully
Reviewed: 16th August 2024
North West End UK Rating: 5