I have been reviewing the Adelaide Cabaret Festival since its inception over 20 years ago. However, I have only reviewed the opening night Gala post-Covid, in 2022 and 2023.

In each, no expense was spared. The 2022 Gala was the festival’s comeback, and the 2023 edition the Festival’s 20th anniversary, one in which all its surviving former directors participated. By comparison, the 2024 line-up was a bit down on star power, though it must be noted that marquee acts like Patti Lupone and Lisa Simone were not arriving until the Festival’s final week.

This Gala proved to be one in which the audience were treated to hidden gems, the next generation on their way to stardom.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Gala: Fascinating Aida. – Photo © Claudio Rashella

Galas aren’t easy to program. Performers have to cherry-pick their strongest material. That’s easy when your show is a series of songs, less so when your show is a thread with a theme. Songs can sound out of place outside their context.

Not that all the performers were strangers to Adelaide audiences. The evergreen Rhonda Burchmore, the last Mohican
from the golden era of variety television,...