ABBAsolutely Fabulous | Adelaide Fringe 2022 review

Rhonda Burchmore and Trevor Ashley take ABBA fans back to the simpler times of the 70s when we watched Countdown.

ABBAsolutely Fabulous stars Rhonda Burchmore and Trevor Ashley.

ABBAsolutely Fabulous

Cabaret

Rating: *****

Regal Theatre

Until February 20

This is a show strictly for ABBA fans – and that’s everyone judging by the sold out, Covid-safe crowd on opening night.

It was literally on for young and old, with an audience spanning four generations.

Rhonda Burchmore has previously performed her ode to her own – and Australia’s – obsession over the Swedish supergroup with Lara Mulcahy.

But the 2022 ABBAsolutely Fabulous show is, as she says, a world premiere.

Drag artist Trevor Ashley being, as he says, “both the boys and the girls” in ABBA has never been done before.

And without giving too much away, Ashley’s addition also allowed for a guest appearance from a famous alter ego. It was one of the show’s highlights, of which there were many.

For generation Xers, ABBAsolutely Fabulous took us back to the simpler times of the seventies when we watched Countdown where Molly Meldrum helped launch ABBA.

The TV show and its host get a shout out from Burchmore and Ashley, whose banter includes dad jokes and how’s your father? humour.

Like the good clean fun of the dirty jokes in Are You Being Served? from the Countdown era, the latter went over the heads of the children in the audience while their parents and grandparents roared with laughter.

All the big singalong (under your mask) hits Dancing Queen, Fernando, Super Trouper and Thank You For The Music were there and brilliantly showcased.

But the show’s moment belonged to Burchmore with her solo of her favourite ABBA song to perform, which she admits is “a biggie”: Her The Winner Takes It All reminded us why she is widely regarded as Australia’s favourite showgirl.

Its beauty had some breaking down in tears and others up on their feet to applaud.

Burchmore and Ashley also deserve credit for including songs – which we all know and love thanks to Countdown that never make ABBA playlists or best-of compilations – such as When I Kissed The Teacher and Chiquitita.

ABBA’s gift to Australia, Bang-a-Boomerang would be a welcome addition for the segment when their Frida and Agnetha don bedazzled Australiana costumes.

As Molly would say, “do yourself a favour” and go see this fun and fabulous five-star show.