Anyone for croquet?

The Royal Croquet Club, Adelaide Fringe 2017

After three successful years encamped in Adelaide’s Victoria Square, this year’s Royal Croquet Club has moved across the Torrens lake to Pinky Flat. Accessible by the Oval footbridge, the RCC has less natural footfall, being more of a destination. It’s a destination well worth the extra 10 minute walk. With much more space and spectacular city views, the new RCC location is a hit. Larger performance spaces, more spacious food areas, two outdoor music stages- the Porch Sessions and the ever popular RCC Mix Tape Stage- essentially a giant cassette but with live bands- and of course … croquet.

So our 2017 Adelaide Fringe experience began at the Yalumba pop up wine bar by the water’s edge, a Vietnamese bahn mi roll and Impure Thoughts in the intimate Parlour venue. Veering between Beethoven and Regina Spektor modes, Claire Healy‘s cabaret was an amusing exploration of social repression and expression, complete with an “impurity vow” enthusiastically endorsed by the audience. The mood, although generally comedic, featured some more serious elements such as the Bicycle Song inspired by historical and hysterical (male) medical opinions on the earliest female cyclists, and of course, the obligatory ukulele sing-along. Well paced throughout, Claire’s natural exuberance and musical dexterity ensured for a highly engaging show.

Roll on more Fringe! Anyone for Croquet?

Adelaide Fringe 16 Feb- 19 March. More information from www.adelaidefringe.com.au.