CHRYSALIS National Wine Centre Until 25 Feb 2018 Review by Maggie Wood This show is billed as a world premiere, but is actually a work in progress, as cabaret artist Megan Doherty tells us on a few occasions throughout the show. Chrysalis is the story of Doherty’s escape overseas to the UK with a suitcase full of dreams, only to find that life has complications no matter where you go. Each song of the 45 minute show is picked to illustrate a phase or event of her life overseas. Doherty has a sweet voice and a winning personality. With work this show could develop into something sales-worthy, but it is not there yet. The music is beautifully provided by Emma Knights on piano. However, this show is calling out for the strong arm of a director who can help develop a strong scripted narrative with a story arc on which to hang the music, and finesse the song choices as some did not sit well with Ms Doherty’s voice. The non-narrative chat also needs reining in. Between plugging other shows, introducing and plugging friends in the audience there’s a sense of randomness, lack of planning, and indeed, busking it. An audience that has paid the ticket price, the petrol price and perhaps even the babysitter price, deserves better than what is no more the chance to be witnesses to a show in development. They deserve a finished, professional show. I look forward to seeing this show again at some point in the future, fulfilling its promise and living up to its potential. Rating: 2.5 stars (out of 5)