Arisha's OK Cabaret Review ~ 19.07.2023

"How do you sing when the world stops?"

A thought-provoking, poignant question delivered by Arisha-Jane Marsh. One which I continued to think about as I left Sonata Piano & Cabaret Lounge last night.

Arisha-Jane Marsh, the star of Arisha's OK Cabaret, delivered what can only be described as a liberated, charismatic and heart-felt performance. 

This cabaret-style musical revue tells an autobiographical story from Arisha's perspective. It was an excitingly varied mixture of aria, jazz standards, musical theatre and pop music and it set out to explore themes of displacement and homelessness in times of crisis, found family and the strength of queer relationships.

In the show, we find out about Arisha's journey in the lead up to Lockdown 2020; how they hopped across the pond to the USA to learn opera in Oklahoma City, their battle with auditions, acapella harmonies and finally, how they begin to feel a sense of belonging in the space around them. 

However, all of that quickly changes when March 12th arrives, the campus is ordered to shut down and the following day is filled with frantic goodbyes to people they have grown to love on campus.

Arisha's life as they knew it was completely uprooted and they express in the show just how much that impacted them as an autistic creative, living so far from home. They had no other option than to rely upon the community around them for support.

Subsequently, Arisha went from staying in New Mexico with a friend, to being put in emergency housing to complete their studies, and eventually, made it back to Manchester safe enough to sing the tale.

It goes without saying that this show is an emotional roller-coaster, and yet despite the unprecedented and difficult circumstances Marsh had to face, they have managed to create something truly special as a result, which encapsulated their ability to find light in the darkest of moments.

Their comedic timing, too, was effortlessly incorporated into the performance and I found this to be refreshing and necessary, as the show tackled themes that affected so many people in such devastating ways. This aspect of the show also made the story even more relatable, as many of us turned to humour and comedy in the unpredictable months of Lockdown to cope with every day life. Laughter after all, is the best medicine!

Of course, some of this humour and light evidently came with hindsight, as Marsh expressed in the show how, only now, after three years, are they able to talk about their experience having had time to somewhat process what had happened.

This, and Arisha's earnest and authentic storytelling, only enhanced the impact of the show!

I feel any artist that chooses to speak about their vulnerabilities or loss, especially when it is a personal loss of any kind; be that losing a part of yourself, losing a loved one, a home or something else, is incredibly brave. It is, after all, extremely difficult to verbalise the affects of loss and grief in any capacity and be open about what makes us vulnerable. It is something which, as a society, we struggle to do. 

I can only commend Arisha for opening up that dialogue between them and the audience and could not agree more with their sentiment; that we should speak about these struggles more often.

Only if we begin to speak about the issues we have faced, will we begin to process them and heal.

Alongside Arisha's storytelling, their vocals were exciting and fantastically controlled. I did wonder whether there was a style of music this person couldn't sing! How they conveyed emotion through song was fun, brilliantly entertaining and at times, thoughtful and emotive. Their understanding of their voice and how to showcase it well was completely apparent and the collection of songs selected for the show, showcased their range beautifully. 

A real stand-out vocal moment came during Youkali, a hauntingly beautiful French song, where we heard Arisha sing with immense sincerity and heart. This song and the way it was portrayed was a reminder that music is a universal language and that we don't necessarily have to understand every word to appreciate the emotion and meaning behind it. 

Accompanied by pianist, Jess D'Silva, who was incredibly invested in Arisha's delivery and played with delicacy and ease, this was an utterly enticing moment of the show which I've not been able to forget since. 

There are few shows out there which could be suitable for such a wide demographic of people. Whether you're a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, a music lover, a performer, a neurodiverse person or were affected by the impact of the global pandemic (which I'm sure is everybody!), then this show has something for you.

Ultimately, Arisha performed in a way that welcomed everyone, regardless of who they were or where they had come from and it was wonderful to be amongst such a diverse audience. It was this quality about their performance and the following, reoccurring themes in the show, that allowed me to consolidate what I'd taken away from the production:

Kindness, mental health and belonging.

The smallest of warm gestures and acceptance can make a huge difference to somebodies wellbeing, especially in times of crisis. Kindness, after all, costs nothing and could potentially, help somebody thrive and not just survive.

The show's story arch and the music included within it honour these notions and I sincerely hope that this show's audiences in future take the same message away and strive to lead with kindness, as Arisha, and those that supported them throughout their struggles, did. 

Finally, a special mention goes to To Bee Productions for producing this show. Their work prior to this years Greater Manchester Fringe Festival has been both innovative and inclusive towards queer and Manchester-based artists. They have produced a variety of cabaret style performances with a focus on storytelling and they have received fantastic reviews in the process!

Though Fringe Festivals like GM Fringe offer opportunities for emerging artists and companies to showcase new work, Arisha's OK Cabaret felt like a very accomplished production with clear intention, meaning and was executed to a high standard. 

I am excited to see what this company produces in the future!

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