Review: The Vintage Belles

**Picture**: The Vintage Belles (*credit: Creative Futures Photography*)

PIP Theatre is certainly having a major impact on the live arts scene in Brisbane. Perfectly timed for the we-ought-to-do-something-for-christmas-but-I-have-no-idea-what-the-family-office-friends-would-want-to see market is PIP’s live arts & cabaret festival, the Toucan Club (21 November-21 December). With a program of over 20 different shows, there is plenty of comedy, cabaret, burlesque, music, drag, and theatre to choose from to fill up any empty Wednesday to Saturday nights.

In the opening week, one of the shows topping the bill is the self-titled The Vintage Belles, promising a classic twist to contemporary songs, with a focus on music by strong women. Not every song was a reinterpretation of contemporary hits, as the Belles also included several vintage numbers in their set—including the excellent opening harmonies on the jazz standard It Don't Mean a Thing, the swing era Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing), Orange Colored Sky, and the ‘torchy lounge-style’ 1950’s Fever.

The more contemporary songs by ‘strong women’ included numbers made famous by artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Taylor Swift, Madonna, and Celine Dion. Songs such as Shake it Off, Stop, Like a Prayer, and My Heart Will Go On certainly benefited from a change of tempo—and the ‘audience fun’ quotient was very high when taught the choreography for the Vintage Belles’ version of the Spice Girls Stop. Encouraging audience participation in a show such as this is often a good idea, and certainly led to lots of giggles and loud applause for that number.

The Vintage Belles featured in the three-show PIP Theatre Toucan Club run includes varying combinations of 6 talented performers: Rebecca Djapovic, Julie Beard, Chelsea Burton, Georgia Attard, Tiffany Payne, Taylah McLennan. On Thursday night, the enthusiastic audience applauded Tiffany Payne, Julie Beard, and Taylah McLennan. Each artist had their moment in the spotlight (look out for a fabulous Tiffany Payne version of Girls Just Want to Have Fun), and together the Vintage Belles shone with their excellent harmonies and moves. Perhaps a little more audience interaction would have been nice, but they had a lot to cover in their allocated timeslot.

It is always wonderful to see a live band on stage (composers/arrangements by Cleon Barraclough, Peta Leigh Wilson, Tom Collins, and Scott Bradley). ‘Dr Bob’ was excellent choice on double bass, and we all really enjoyed Julie Beard’s ‘duet’ with Dr Bob in an impressive performance of Meghan Trainor’s 2014 All About That Bass; a perfect choice of contemporary song for a more traditional styling. Great work also, throughout the show, on Keys (Peta) and Drums (Oscar)—particularly in songs such as Ex's & Oh's and Fever.

The Vintage Belles is a passion project of Rebecca Djapovic (Bec Djapovic Creative), who is credited as producer, writer, director and choreographer of the show. I would be really interested to see how Djapovic’s Vintage Belles portfolio expands; perhaps to include more audience interaction and possibly shows that are ‘all swing’, ‘all contemporary songs with a postmodern jukebox twist,’ or even a run through of the top hits of just one artist. A Taylor Swift night of swing, jazz, and ‘boo-doop-di-doo’ anyone?

As the PIP Toucan Club is offering up to three shows playing each night, and has an enticing $50 two-show deal, why not make a beeline for Milton and see if you can find two shows that you’d like to see. What about partnering The Vintage Belles with a return visit to see Adore Handel’s Little Black Book or the Toucan Kings? At $50 for two shows, it’s probably the best value live arts and cabaret in Brisbane. Or, to quote another strong female artist, ‘so crazy right now!’

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture**: The Vintage Belles choreographing their Toucan Club audience. *Image Credit: Creative Futures Photography*

Audience information: The Vintage Belles (7pm, 21-23 November 2024), PIP Theatre, 20 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064. 45+ minutes. Occasional strong use of smoke haze. Tickets $33-37 (or include in the ‘two shows for $50’ deal).

The reviewer attended the 21 November 2024 performance.

Geoff Lawrence