Review: Adulting

The term ‘adulting’ is  a verbalisation of an ideal state of grownupness, one that can seem elusive in these times of precarious careers and high house prices.

Tash York shows us that this terminal time of life can be done with a big voice and a big heart. Comfortably filling the dome of The Bally at Gluttony with amusing re-works of 90s hits like Black or White (Red or white) and All that she wants (is another baby because what else are adult women supposed to want, still?), as well as a few hilariously self-authored numbers, York brings the good news that the criteria for adult lies within.

The cabaret style is well suited to the theme — cabaret itself, as York points out, is supposed to tell the truth.  In this she is well supported by Jamie Burgess on keys and wisecracks.

With the exception of one number (a confusingly saccharine tribute to her mother), York’s songs and repartee flow into each other flawlessly, generating laugh after relatable laugh from the audience. Indeed, the gentleness of her wit and beauty of her voice almost conceals the cleverness of this show — York takes the selfies and smashed avos that some say mark young peoples’ refusal to adult and shows us how they’re tools for self-expression and self-discovery. And what could be more grown-up than that?

Adulting played at The Bally in Gluttony on Wednesday, February 22 and continues until February 25.