Comedy Festival 2018: Lady Rizo deserves a full house in Red, White and Indigo ★★★★½

SPECTACULAR cabaret act Lady Rizo apologises for America in soaring style with covers and creative set-pieces powered by astonishing vocals.

THE self-appointed “high priestess of cabaret” has arrived in Melbourne for the first time, and she’s very, very sorry.

Taking it upon herself to atone for the sins of her nation, Lady Rizo (a New Yorker of Oregonian origin) has plenty to say about the not-so-hot mess her homeland is in right now, and even has a couple of chirps for the locals in case we’re feeling too smug by comparison.

Lady Rizo in Red, White and Indigo.

Proceedings begin with a jazzy rendition of The Star Spangled Banner intercut with Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler), leaving us in little doubt about where this is going.

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Rolling through covers ranging from Nina Simone to Portishead to D’Angelo, an unforgettable version of Helen Reddy’s I Am Woman and some excellent originals, Rizo powerfully laments what ails America, touching on women’s rights, gun violence and of course the residency of a certain “sebaceous cyst” in the White House.

It’s safe to suggest there’s not a lot of nuance here, the Lady is righteously furious and making the reasonably safe wager that there’s unlikely to be too many cabaret aficionados who won’t get on board. For the coalition of the willing, there’s free shots, an all-in dance party and some unusually tactile but totally consensual audience interaction.

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A stunning set-piece closer paying tribute to Lady Liberty is genuinely affecting before the entire house is invited to a joyous Donna Summer-fuelled encore and everyone feels the love.

Rizo’s short TV Gala spot didn’t come close to showcasing what’s on offer here, a spectacular talent backed by splendid musicianship and enough between song patter to justify the show’s inclusion in the Comedy Festival program.

But it’s really all about the songs and that incredible voice. It deserves a full house every night. If this is what a true American apology looks like, all is forgiven.

Lady Rizo, Red, White and Indigo

The Famous Spiegeltent at Arts Centre, until April 22.

comedyfestival.com.au