Melbourne International Comedy Festival review by Steve Bennett

This could be what happened if Amelie did cabaret.

Dressed in reds and whites, heavy make-up emphasising her pixie-doll look, Clara Cupcakes takes to the stage following a home-made video based on cardboard craftwork and featuring plenty of bunting. French cafe music carousels out of the speakers as she plays with her food, coquettishly making a light sabre out of her baguette. Yes, this is whimsy – and she is here to conquer it.

The show is structured as a seven-step programme for whimsyholics, her Minnie Mouse voice guiding us from annoyance to acceptance through a series of exercises. And yes, that does mean audience participation.

There’s a lot of winsome charm in her effusive approach, her sweet blandishments easily persuading all her volunteers to play. Not all the set pieces quite come off – even the first is a convoluted set-up for minimal effect, mainly an excuse to drive a double entendre into the ground. Yet others are a delight – the monkey scene especially – and what audience doesn’t enjoy taking out some frustrations directly at a performer? Here she literally puts herself in the firing line during a hula-hoop demonstration.

Combining the best aesthetic values of vaudeville with the fanciful cutesiness of her chosen comedy genre produces a show with a strong, and loveable, personality. The uncynical cheerfulness and strong sense of frivolous fun are infectious, even if you think you don’t like whimsy.

And that’s the point. Ms Cupcakes knows whimsy has a bad name thanks to some if its more twee exponents and is here to reclaim it as something bolder. This isn’t an incontrovertible argument for the genre, but it’s certainly a strong defence – and as warm as the generous hug she gives to every audience member as they file out.

Review date: 17 Apr 2015
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Melbourne International Comedy Festival