Above: Comedian and songwriter Allli Butler stars in this clever, high energy satire currently playing at the erskineville Town Hall. Image: supplied.
What do you get when a forty year old nurse from regional Western Australia with fierce ambition to change careers moves to trendy Bondi and is dead set keen on becoming a working popstar?
The answer is a madcap, down-to-earth, edgy, taffeta-swathed songwriter with superstar mindset who can easily entertain and touch us with her cutting social satire . Alli Butler’s bold, brassy and take-no-prisoners digs at modern life hit the mark.
Butler takes us on quite a ride of reality as she describes in spoken word and song the challenges in this day and age of being a nurse, mother, wife, woman and fledgeling pop singer all rollled into one. Clear commentary on her sea change from regional WA to downtown Bondi makes this often deliciously inappropriate romp also a thought-provoking and empowering one.
Her choise comedic and musical talent used for the storytelling combines two guitars, short, snappy original hit song ideas and loads of unforgiving energy to fuel the well-paced show. There is an instantly endearing, unapologetic in-ya-face nostalgia for the 80’s in Butler’s mindset.We are taunted and tempted with music, maturity as well as merch to embrace successfully the simpler life dangled before us by this Countdown-ready performer.
Great energy, visual and musical gags and uncensored comment on harsh realities in the modern industry of just getting by fill the Erskineville Town Hall’s intimate ‘Boom Boom Room’ with much love laughter and inimitable commentary, colour and movement.
This comes from a health professional mother-turned-megastar who is just sick and tired of the absurd trends and attitudes around us in 2022. Her summary rockets along and in hit song and harsh-sentiment style from the outset.
Butler’s flair for highlighting the absurdities and awkwardness of contemporary loife leaves few stones unturned. Just when you fear she may be headed toward an unspeakable place she is already there, one step ahead, with guitar strapped on.
We join her for songs, anecdotes and opinion on pubic hair removal, marital sex, trolling, phone obsession, Tinder, tight G strings, Eastern suburbs chic and botox.
Above: Singer, songwriter and life coach Alli Butler- you saw her first at the Sydney Fringe!
There are songs of varying length to match each concern. These range from the hysterically bold, through blindingly brief and Fringe-worthy clever to the extended heart-on sleeveless dress style of touchingly beautiful.
Butler attacks topics in this racy, dorky monologue from the removal of the female pubic fringe to buying botox treatment right through to the difficulties of juggling sass, technology, fashion, music career and domestic commitment in suburban Sydney.
Her beautiful, extended songs such as ‘Think With Your Heart’ and ‘Call on Me’ about support of self and family champion a need for inner and shared strength.
This modern life as described, sans the security of a grounded landline, instead offers only a flighty fad-filled mobile phone is questionable to say the least. It can be perilous for the would-be popstar, parent or fame-hungry human amongst us.
Butler’s songwriting and vocal skills are as true and Solid-Gold-secure as her comic honesty, irresistible audience participation segments and slick super-raw performance. The laughs and audience eagerness to join in when invited are as real as Brazilian laser hair removal or a thong wedged between butt cheeks.
Go see this popstar before her obvious talent gets too big for the Fringe Festival circuit. In the fashion of this compelling performer, there will be totally no regrets when you do.
40 year old popstar plays nightly until Sat September 10 in the 8pm time slot at Ersikneville Town Hall’s Boom Boom Room.
