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Robyn Archer / Paul Grabowsky and the Agitators 'I Protest' Space Theatre Sunday 13 June Although English chanteuse Marianne Faithfull may have displaced Robyn Archer as the foremost English language Brecht/Weill interpreter for a while in the 'nineties, there is little doubt Archer maintains her supremacy in the more difficult repertoire of Brecht and Hans Eisler. 'I Protest' is an excellent show that shows just how appropriate these political songs remain, programmed along with early Bob Dylan and a few choice originals by Archer and Grabowsky themselves. As well as Archer's passionate delivery, praise should given to Grabowsky's excellent and individual arrangements for the Agitators - which share much in common with the best of Weill's original orchestration bringing together not only piano, guitar, sax and trumpet but also accordion. Starting with a highly original jazz-tinged arrangement of Dylan's Chimes Of Freedom, the show brought together such seemingly different streams of political protest with quotes from the recent Australian and international press to show that indeed the 'times are a-changin' and not necessarily for the better. Perhaps the most provocatively prescient of the new songs written for the show was The Death Of Dialectic which takes a well aimed dig at the more manipulative radio jocks while reminding us of the Wildean maxim wherein it is suggested that the medieval rack has now been replaced by the press. Highlights included Eisler's stirring On The Stimulating Impact Of Cash, whilst the most inventive of Grabowsky's arrangements lay in Dylan's brutal Masters Of War wherein Grabowsky's highly original use of instrumental colour excelled. It is amazing just how appropriate the lyrics of Brecht and Dylan remain for our times - especially when one considers that the newest of these songs is now well over forty years old. 'I Protest' is undoubtedly this year's festival's most politically influenced cabaret, given masterly performances by all concerned.  |
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