Review: Hans: If You Don’t Love Me…Leave by David Cavanagh
Posted on: Fri 2 Mar 2018
Hi, I’m David Cavanagh and I’ve been to see “Hans: If You Don’t Love Me…Leave” in The Octagon at Gluttony. Local bloke Hans has been a feature of the Fringe for quite some time, and he never fails to draw a good crowd, and this show was no different, with the almost full house hanging off every sequin-covered moment. Hans’ aim was to “advance Australia’s flair” and he did this in spades, giving the Australian songbook the Berlin treatment, ably assisted by his tight five-piece band and two enthusiastic dancers. After initially bemoaning the 6.30 time slot he had been given; “anyone would think this was a kids’ show”, which it definitely wasn’t, with coarse language throughout, Hans went on during his 60 minute performance to give a serve to many deserving institutions and characters, including the Catholic Church, Rolf Harris, Don Burke and, of course, Barnaby Joyce. The front row of the audience came in for plenty of good-natured banter, and a Hans show wouldn’t be complete without the appearance of the piano accordion, which he wields with aplomb.
This is a high-energy show, full of Hans’ traditional glitter and glam, kept fresh through his use of very current affairs. This is a show definitely worth a look.
Hans: If You Don’t Love Me…Leave is part of the Adelaide Fringe and runs in The Octagon at Gluttony until March 4th and then again from March 13th to the 18th. Check your Fringe guide for details.
