Review by Laura Money
MENAGERIE, Perth’s premier indie-pop choir present songs from their favourite movies in a beautiful and joyus evening that celebrates the weird and the wonderful. Of course, being an indie choir, the focus is on the indie film – with only cult mainstream works being represented. Menagerie formed in 2013 as a group of music loving, left-of-centre, life-embracing individuals under the watchful eye of Zookeeper Kate Page. They have put on quirky performances of everyone from the Pixies to Bright Eyes, started Flash Mobs around Perth and enjoyed sell-out FRINGEWORLD shows.
Opening with several characters from the iconic Kill Bill movies, the choir launch into a haunting version of ‘Bang Bang (my baby shot me down)’ – it’s a beautiful rendition, making full use of the indie-vibe of the choir. This is not your high-school choir! Decked out in various costumes from the films that will be represented, Menagerie presents the show in four acts. MC Tristan Fidler takes on the mantle of narrator, in a comfy seat, as he breaks down why each song choice is made by this original-sounding choir.
‘Big Time Sensuality’ from Tank Girl is a surprising highlight of the ‘first act’ with a bit of funny acting occuring beforehand. It’s the type of song you wouldn’t expect to be arranged for a choir – but therein lies Menagerie’s strength, taking the non-conventional and turning them into the even more non-conventional! A haunting rendition of ‘Strings that Tie to You’ from the soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind rounds up the first act. There are some wonderful, off-beat moments of wonderful off-beat cinema celebrated here, from singing Icelandic perfectly in ‘Staralfur’ from The Life Aquatic, to asking ‘Where is My Mind’ with the characters from Fight Club, this concert has something for everyone.
Let’s be honest – Menagerie are super-cool. They’re a collection of the kind of people who didn’t fit in at high-school but who you want to be now. Ending on a wonderfully upbeat rendition of ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ from The Breakfast Club, all wearing sunglasses that put us all in the shade – Menagerie cement themselves in the fabric of Perth’s uber-cool arts scene.
When: 16th – 19th February 2017 | 9:00pm
Where: Perth Town Hall | Cathedral Square | PERTH
Tickets: $19 – $21
Info: Duration 70 minutes | Suitable 15+ | WA Artist
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