MYTH – LIVES & SONGS OF PIAF, DIETRICH, MONROE AND OTHER FEMALE LEGENDS The German Club Until 18 Mar 2018 Review by Talia Gaertner-Jones Germany’s Sylvia Brécko brings her 2017 Fringe show back to Adelaide for an encore performance! Brécko, with her charm, grace and humour sings her way through songs made famous by some of the world’s most influential women entertainers and her role models. Beginning her performance with an ode to Edith Piaf, Brécko morphed into character. Her tones and vibrato matched Piaf’s beautifully as she speaks and sings in fluent French. “Padam, Padam” was a highlight of her Piaf set and had some audience members swaying in their seats. Moving from one international star to another, the middle part of Brécko’s show was dedicated to Marlene Dietrich. To link the sets she sang Piaf’s most well-known and loved song “La Vie En Rose” firstly as Dietrich and then as Piaf. Brécko’s ability to move seamlessly between these two women and her attention to detail to their voices and mannerisms are exquisite. In an upbeat switch from the melancholies of the previous songs, Brécko donned a top hat and tails to dance her way through the audience performing Dietrich’s “Ich Bin Die Fesche Lola”. The final acts of Brécko’s performance consisted of her bringing out her ukulele for “Moon River” and the famous window scene of Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and then onto her interpretation of Marilyn Monroe. Re-enacting the well-known “Happy Birthday Mr President” and “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend”, Brécko’s Monroe was not as strong as her previous European women entertainers, as Monroes’ light and airy voice is difficult to match. However, after performing in French, German and English, Brécko moved to Italy as Sophia Loren and sang “Americano” from the film “It Started In Naples”. Once again, Brécko’s charisma shows through this performance as she dances and sang across the stage. Her final performance of one of the lesser known but still amazing women singers from Germany, Hildegard Knef with her song “Für mich, soll’s rote Rosen regnen” was beautiful. Brécko’s show is definitely one for those who have an appreciation for music from the past and a celebration of some of the most influential women in the entertainment industry. Her voice is suited to this style of music and is not of this era. Hopefully we see Brécko back for the Fringe in years to come! Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5