PICCOLO TALES is currently having a return season at the inimitable Piccolo Bar in Roslyn Street, Kings Cross.
The same team are back again to perform the show; the cafe’s charismatic eighty one year old owner Vittorio and flamboyant actress, Vashti Hughes, who regale audiences with stories from the legendary cafe’s long and colourful history extending back to the nineteen fifties.
Whilst the Piccolo Bar has remained open and its venue unchanged for more than fifty years, many societal changes have taken place. The hippie movement, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, drug experimentation amongst the young, Les Girls; all these ‘events’ get referenced and of-course Vittorio has his say about all of them. The constantly changing musical landscape was also well depicted with Hughes singing excerpts from an assortment of songs.This history lesson/trip down memory lane facet was a very appealing aspect of the show.
The show’s other main attraction was its street theatre genre. I had one of the seats in the park opposite the cafe and there was as much theatre going on in the cafe’s surrounds as was taking place inside the space. Theatre very typical of Kings Cross…Police and fire engines racing down the street with sirens blaring…souped up cars pausing by the cafe ogling the action inside as were tourists strolling down the street…the barbers in the barber shop snipping away as the men look vainly into the mirror…city workers visiting the corner shop after a hard day in the office.
From the get-go, Vashti Hughes delivered a high energy, free-wheeling, very endearing performance with Vittorio, mainly seated in the cafe, providing some quick-fire comebacks and retorts.
The action was divided equally between the tiny inside cafe area which only fitted some ten patrons to the cafe’s perimeter where a further small group of theatregoers were seated. Then there were some more people gathered sitting on the ledge of the park opposite and wearing wi-fi headsets so that they could hear the performers.
Recommended, PICCOLO TALES written and performed by Vashti Hughes, accompanied by Vittorio, directed by James Winter with music by Russ Johnston, is playing the Piccolo Bar, 6 Roslyn Street, Potts Point each Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm. Bookings at www.piccolotales.eventbrite.com.au. Snacks are available for purchase.