Millicent Sarre is Too Tired to Smash (Patriarchy) → Millicent Sarre

What better way to talk through the issues facing individuals in our current climate than with a microphone and a piano at the Adelaide Fringe. South Australian cabaret icon Millicent Sarre has done just that. Her new show titled, Millicent Sarre is Too Tired to Smash (Patriarchy), is a genius collective reprieve for audiences also feeling the weight of the world at the moment. 

Going in, I honestly expected a comedy cabaret that poked fun at patriarchal systems. Where the show actually takes the audience though, is through a raw, honest, and hopeful musical TED Talk about society’s feelings of expectation and burnout. The show is a poignant societal analysis of life as we know it through song. 

It is already known that Millicent Sarre is an incredible performer and vocalist. This time, she harnesses her solo talents, looping her voice to layer the harmonies of her original songs. She is calm, commanding, and keeps the audience in an utter trance throughout the show. The approach to her performance this time is clearly a lot more vulnerable and personal, exposing her inner thoughts to the audience, like one does with friends when discussing an existential crisis. Her lyrics explore her thoughts and reflections on relationships, capitalism and technology, whilst feeling numb to it all in the midst of burnout. 

That may sound heavy for a cabaret, but rest assured that Millicent balances these themes with boppy musical hits, namely one about paying $14 to message her current partner on Hin-, oops, I should say… a dating app which shall not be named… 

She concludes with the comforting message of hope that it's okay, because “no one has their sh*t together” anyway, so let's all sing in unison and feel the real power of human connection just for a moment. 

Millicent Sarre is Too Tired to Smash (Patriarchy) is an inspirational and cleverly executed show, you may also be tired, but don’t sleep on this one. 


 

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