Adelaide Fringe Festival 2000
The Rosemont Hotel February 26 - March 19
Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide Gay Times

Black Pearls and Strange Fruit ( The Rosemount Hotel, Adelaide Fringe Festival 2000) March17, 2000 ISSUE 188 Reviewer: Graeme

Unfortunately by the time this hits the streets, this show along with most of the Fringe will be but a memory.  Having said that, if you missed this journey into the hearts and souls of the American black female singers from Billie Holiday to Aretha Franklin just let me say it was your loss.  This show should have been in everyone’s list.  Jackie, a beautiful songstress and storyteller, had the audience captivated as she walked us through the struggle for equality and the freedom of being a coloured person in America throughout the decades and centuries.  With a powerhouse voice, that is both suave and sultry, a story unfolded of sadness, beauty and the will of never being defeated.  Both the performance and the show are pure delight.  Mention must be given to Bruce Hancock and Ted Nettlebeck on piano, Peter Cassidy on double bass and Brian Gerner on drums.  Do not despair though as a cd under the same title will be available and definitely a worthy addition to anyone’s music collection.