I saw Isabella last year performing with Impromptunes but have had not seen her in her own show since 2019 with “How Far I’ll Go” and her experience as a children’s birthday party clown and entertainer (and also got the streaming show for Adelaide Fringe) so I was looking forward to this as I had decided to go see the show Motorboat and wanted a show in the same venue.

While waiting to go into the show so I overheard some people saying only the first and last songs are scripted songs and the rest is all improvised. Certainly it did seem that they were trying to wrap things up towards the ends but they had a lot of plot threads due to all the improvisation.

This is 100% a cabaret show as opposed to straight comedy and such will have its own audience who would not normally go to stand-up shows. Isabella Valette sure does work on the high kicks and athletics in this show, it made my leg hurt even looking at it.

I do really like Isabella Valette but I would still recommend this show even if you have not seen her perform before and her partner on the piano goes well also. All the music is live which means it has to work or the show will not. They did have some technical issues which they put down to “rats” that ended up becoming a major plot point in the show.

This is a nice and pleasant show with no difficult themes or challenging material. Maybe one to take your older parents to or someone who doesn’t like the more edgy stuff. Would be a good date show if you have someone who is into cabaret.

It is what it is they are quite clear of that. It was a nice lead in to the show I went to after which was a lot more in your face and different style of comedy but still sort of cabaret. Well worth your time if you want to go to a show in this timeslot and then go to a later show.

Rating: 4/5

Show details:

Tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/cabaret-unscripted

Adult: All Tix $39.00

Concession: All Tix $35.00

Group (6+): All Tix $31.00

Tightarse Tuesday: $30.00

Broke Butterfly: All Tix $15.00

Mon 1 Apr – Thu 11 Apr: 8.30pm;

Sat 13 Apr: 8.30pm

The Butterfly Club – Upstairs, 5 Carson Pl, Melbourne

Show length: 60 Minutes