'Wanderlust' – a tale of travel, love. . . And love of travel.
Adelaide cabaret performer Shelley Dunstone has a number of original shows up her sleeve, exploring many different eras and styles of music. You might have seen her in 'The Confessions Of A Wannabe Bond Girl', 'Adventures With A Brazilian', 'Unbreak My Heart', 'A French Romance', 'Non-Stop From Brazil', 'Le grand Legrand', 'Paris, LA, Rio!' and 'Memories Of Brazil'.
Now, In 'Wanderlust', Shelley will claim her German heritage and celebrate The Great German Songbook (that's not technically a thing. . . But more on that soon!) through voice and piano, the latter provided by Edward Heddle.
'Wanderlust' – named after the German word for 'love of travel', asks if the grass really is greener on the other side of the world.
Here, Shelley Dunstone tells us what to expect in the show, which is playing as part of this year's Adelaide Fringe..
Tell us a bit about ‘Wanderlust’.
'Wanderlust' is German for 'love of travel'. The title is ironic, because we are all wondering whether we'll ever be able to travel again. It's a story of longing for distant places and alternative lives. The story begins in the early 1850s, when my ancestors migrated here from Hamburg. But for a quirk of fate, I could have been German, and I talk about what that might have been like. Then I recount my own travels in Germanic parts of the world – experiences that were variously fun, embarrassing and sad. Finally we come to the present day, when we can't travel much at all.
What inspired you to write this show?
I studied German at school, but had never learned any songs in German, so I started exploring to see which ones I might like to sing. At the same time I was researching my German ancestry, and discovered that my great-great grandfather was a ship's captain who sailed some passengers to Australia and ended up staying here. So I wrote him into the story, and put all of this together with some stories about my own travels in Germany and Austria.
You’ll be joined by Ed Heddle on piano. Tell us a bit about him.
Ed is an extremely accomplished jazz pianist and composer. He did his Masters in music in New York, and is now working towards his Ph.D, which focuses on unusual rhythmic patterns. His other passions are maths and rock climbing.
And what are you most looking forward to about presenting it as part of Adelaide Fringe?
I performed this show twice last year in Cabaret Fringe, so I'm feeling confident and excited, and ready to share my creation with the audience.
Why do you think the show belongs at Adelaide Fringe?
There's such a variety in Fringe! This show is funny, sad and philosophical, and the songs are sublime.
What do you love most about the festival?
I have a lot of artistic friends. I enjoy going to see the shows they have developed, and meeting up with people I know.
For those unfamiliar, can you give us a taste of the Great German Songbook?
I just made that up! I've never heard anyone mention the Great German Songbook, but I feel that music from the Weimar Cabaret era (1920s to 1930s) would fit into that category. My show includes songs by Kurt Weill, Werner Scharfenberger and Friedrich Hollaender. These are from early-mid 20th century. The show also includes an eclectic mix of songs in English. You don't need to know any German to enjoy the show, but you might come out speaking some!
What’s your favourite song to perform from it, and why?
'Eine kleine Sehnsucht (A Little Longing)' by Friedrich Hollaender. It's about nurturing a little dream and also using your imagination to make the most of life as it is. The tango feel of the music is irresistible.
Describe ‘Wanderlust’ using a song lyric from the show.
“Let's do once more all the things we did before, the summer we crossed Europe in the rain” (it's a Stacey Kent song). Time to travel again!
'Wanderlust' plays Nexus Arts (Adelaide Fringe) 25-26 February.
