Abbey Wheeler
The crowd knew they were in for a treat the moment Matthew Hadgraft waltzed onto stage: decked out in a dazzling white suit, matching top hat, and bauble accessories. Elton John: Your Song promised to be an upbeat and groovy tribute to the 70s glam-pop icon, and it did not disappoint.
Hidden amongst the hustle and bustle of the Barrack Street café strip in Perth’s CBD, the Liberty Fringe Theatre provided the perfect backdrop for the intimate Fringe Festival show. Strings of fairy lights lit up the theatre, showcasing the unexpected beauty of exposed woodwork and peeling paint. Although the venue was small, Hadgraft had no trouble filling the room with his magnetic stage presence and captivating voice. He had the crowd wrapped around his finger from the moment he burst onto the stage with ‘Crocodile Rock’.
Hadgraft dazzled as he belted out a slew of Elton’s biggest hits, all while accompanying himself on the piano! Although the music was the main drawcard of the performance, an unexpected highlight was the way the actor-singer managed to weave Elton’s life story so naturally into the show; each song was complemented by a short account of an aspect of Elton’s life. By combining story-telling and song, the show went beyond a simple tribute concert and became an immersive experience.
Hadgraft’s humour really shone through as he worked the crowd; he had the audience in stitches as he struggled to hit certain high notes, and he got an elderly couple to join him on stage for ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’—met with raucous applause. While he may have forgotten a few lyrics here and there, the crowd was only too happy to yell them out, and his mistakes only added to the charm of the show.
In a truly wholesome moment, the finale of ‘I’m Still Standing’ received a standing ovation. But the show officially finished with an encore of ‘The Bitch is Back’. Matthew had the crowd grooving until the very end—a fitting tribute to Elton John.
I give it 4/5 Pelicans.