Adelaide Festival Theatre. 4 Jun 2026
I’ve been in epic horror gridlocks in San Francisco, where the locals say, “Try to be zen. Study the colour of the cars.” I’ve been in shockers in New York City, where the most impatient people in the world somehow manage to zone out. There is nothing they can do except blow their horns, which they do.
But in Adelaide, on Cab Gala/AO footy rainy Thursday night, I hit the horror traffic jam to beat them all.
It took more than an hour to get from Stepney to the city.
I can walk it in 40 minutes. I wish I had, even in the glad rags.
Grateful for a slightly late curtain, we just made it into the theatre in time for the blitz of stage bling to replace the maze of red lights outside. Methinks the crowds were still jammed around the Oval. What a night.
But here was gorgeous Reuben Kaye.
It is important to make a good entrance, darlings.
Reuben did so, big time — golden wavy hair shimmering under the lights, in his red bling suit, all-sequin-sparkly, borne on the shoulders of beefy rugby players.
Thereafter, he strutted and preened and teased in a thrill of pride at being the one in charge of the CabFest. Maybe the only one forever? Who put the meth in Methodist? Blame the straights for our shortage of money—the Straits of Hormuz… Reuben had a gag for everything. He’s as funny as he is handsome.
But, hey, he might have been the star, but there was another presence onstage—the Cabaret Auslan interpreter. Long blonde hair, lithe and beautiful and, oh, what a mover. Never has a performance been more captivatingly translated.
Reuben knew it and riffed with her.
And it was on with the show—a little bit of what you like does you good. Or, a sample of the performances lures you to book. With the fabulous Cabaret Band onstage, we revelled in snippets of satire from American Dylan Adler and had a bloody great belly laugh with Em Rusciano’s desperate love quest. What a gem.
When it came to Persian songstress Tara Tiba, conservatively dressed in a modest blue suit and singing in Persian, the Auslan interpreter had a real challenge. Nonetheless, she signed with heart and soul and a universal emotion that everyone could understand.
Reuben thanked the sponsors with general naughtiness, bringing a cut-out “Leksss” onstage. He doesn’t drive, poor dear. He had a very naughty line for dear Helen Burge of Corryton Burge wines.
Not only the old and polished, but also the young and emerging: hence Vidya Makan showed work in progress. Gillian Cosgriff had a game for all, and what an accomplished hoot she is. Baylie Carson can really belt out a song. Javon King, too. In fact, there was a lot of belting out, and big voices, and that oversing that sends today’s talent-show audiences into a swoon.
The total swoon of the night, and the wildest ovation, was reserved for Mahalia Barnes.
No doubt about that Barnes blood. Beautiful music. Beautiful people.
As the grand finale Reuben donned his birthday suit and promised the famous red hankie routine? What did Reuben do with that handkie?
Not hard to guess.
Actually, it was the only place on his bare bod where one could see no tattoos.
Samela Harris
When: 4 Jun 2026
Where: Adelaide Festival Theatre
Bookings: Closed
