Live Review: Me & Otis

The rather austere surroundings of the Perth Town Hall are not what initially springs to mind as a Fringe Festival venue — as you make your way upstairs past portraits of Lord Mayors from days gone by, one can't help but wonder what they would've made of it all — but tonight that's exactly what it is. Movin' Melvin Brown is back in town with his all singing, all dancing show Me & Otis for this year's festival.

An old school song and dance man in the truest sense, from the moment he tap dances out onto the stage, resplendent in a silver lamé jumpsuit, Movin' Melvin effortlessly commands the attention of his audience with an energetic show that would put much younger performers to shame. Apart from a couple of brief costume changes, the man just does not stop.

Backed by a three-piece band and backing vocalist, Brown skilfully weaves the narrative of Otis Redding's career between soulful performances of all of his hits, taking his audience on a journey from Redding's poor beginnings and performances on the Chittlin Circuit through to the chart-topping success that followed.

With his unbridled enthusiasm and infectious laugh, the audience can't help but be drawn into his performance and, as such, it takes very little prompting for everyone to be up and happily singing along to Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) and the gospel classic Amen. Even when not prompted, a large portion of the crowd keeps on singing along.

Of course, being a show about Otis Redding, all the big hits are there — Shake, (Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay, Try A Little Tenderness. Brown sings them all with passion, soul and funky dance moves.

As his show sadly draws to a close, Brown drops some words of wisdom on his attentive audience, asking everyone to remember that, "It's nice to be important but more important to be nice," before finishing up with a rousing version of Everybody Needs Somebody that sees him dancing through the crowd and once again getting everyone up and singing.

Me & Otis has been a highlight of this year's Fringe Festival, and, as was evidenced by the smiles on the faces of the audience as they made their way out, just plain fun. As we made our way back down the staircase past the formal portraits of the old Lord Mayors, we're sure they would've approved.