Review by Hayley Treadwell – Real Woman Real Review ( Facebook / Instagram )
Being invited to the ballet was something new for us, but really, we both love all types of performance art, and with the fusion of ballet and Aussie rock music in Elegantly Wasted, I almost felt like we were in our perfect wheelhouse.
My husband and I are both huge INXS fans, so we were intrigued as to what this show would bring.
Elegantly Wasted is a collaboration of dance and music used to tell an intriguing story. Not a love story, but a story about love.
Nigel Butler did incredible work with the music, it’s genius.
The way the songs were used, lovingly manipulated and woven throughout the performance, brought such depth and impact to the stage. Familiar songs were transformed into something new, while still retaining the emotion that makes them so special.
One of the things I love most about art is that we can all walk away with our own interpretation of what we have seen.
For me, the story was about love. Loving yourself. Loving your life. Finding a lover. Finding all of those things in a world now so consumed by social media, emojis and the constant noise around us.
For my husband, the story was about Michael Hutchence, and his love. Love of himself, love of others, and perhaps where that love might have taken him if things had been different.
Either way you felt the story, if you felt anything like I did, you simply could not turn away.
The choreography was spectacular. The performers were effortless, radiant and captivating all and once and the stage set was perfect.
I loved the mix of the popular and the more obscure INXS songs. The performances that went along with Suicide Blonde and Taste It were some of my favourites, and then we hit Never Tear Us Apart.
The wows just kept getting bigger and bigger.
I found myself sitting there with my hand over my mouth, tears falling from my eyes, completely consumed by what was happening on the stage.
I was in awe of every single performer.
And happily surprised at hearing Michael’s unmistakable voice woven through this incredible live performance adding something incredibly special. It made the whole experience feel even more powerful, and for two INXS fans sitting there watching, it was a pretty magical thing.
A spectacular evening from start to finish. The drinks and canapés before the show were delicious, and the staff at HOTA were all so lovely and helpful, adding to what was already an outstanding evening at the ballet.
We went into Elegantly Wasted intrigued about what a ballet set to INXS could possibly bring.
We left completely captivated.
And isn’t that exactly what great art is supposed to do?
Our sincere congratulations to everyone who worked on this show and helped to bring it to the stage. I understand it was a while in the making so I feel it right to tell you, it was quite possibly one of the best shows I have ever seen. Bravo!
And finally, to the amazing Karen at Identity PR, our deepest gratitude for thinking of us and inviting us along to such an extraordinary show. We had a wonderful time.
Until the next review
Hayley
Great review! I know how hard my brother Nigel worked to bring together the choreographers vision with INXS’s soul. It was pulled together across 3 continents so it’s brilliant that the reception has been so amazing… if you could just have a word with them about streaming it so the collaboration could be shared with the world?!? (Amazing new revenue stream for @qldballet ;))