Uta Uber Kool Ja

Just say 'yes' – that's the plea of washed-up one-hit wonder Uta Uber Kool Ja's manager George, as he scrapes together 15 would-be party animals from the Judith Wright Centre's foyer. With his winged sneakers, he's the fallen star's messenger, he is preparing us for the goddess in a little flat high atop the Judy, accessible only by a blue-lit stairwell. Ushered into Uta's chamber, we're confronted by a complex bundle of neuroses with more ups and downs than a bunch of kids in a bouncy castle. Uta is tall, blonde and beautiful, a clotheshorse for top fashionistas, a nightclub darling, and the progenitor of musical smash Savage Chien. She's desperately sad but craves company and while it's drummed into us that we're not Brisbane's A-listers, we'll do for tonight. Corks pop, the music is turned up and Uta cranks up the party games, taking celebrity head a bit too seriously, while George watches from the sidelines, literally managing her moods with wise words. Performer Georgina Symes' show relies on audience interaction and the willingness to say 'yes' to her requests, but on the night this reviewer attended, the spark that would make this genuinely feel like a real party and not a clever piece of theatre just didn't arrive (half a dozen pre-show drinks to deaden the inhibitions would have helped). That said, there was a lot to like: Uta and George's easy banter and turbulent relationship was a joy to sit back and watch.

Judith Wright Centre to Saturday 18 May