The Crimson Club is a hilarious and entertaining cabaret group that absolutely owns the stage. Coming in hot with a unique and fun musical style, their show brings a twist to some classics and throws in some hilarious originals. While there are a couple of technical issues, the group, helmed by the eccentric, violin-playing lead vocalist Shona Jaunas, brings personality and energy to the Fringe Bar stage, creating a brilliant show.

The absolute core of the group is lead vocalist Shona Jaunas. Clearly a veteran performer, Jaunas dominates the stage with her quirky and quintessentially Kiwi vibe, constantly leaving the audience in stitches with her deft delivery and expressive body language. While not the strongest singer and occasionally suffering from pitch issues, her eccentric personality and vibrant stage presence more than compensate for any shortcomings. If anything, this only adds to the down-to-earth charm of the group. Some of my favourite moments from Jaunas are when she picks up the violin. An absolute magician with the bow, her impressive violin playing immediately elevates each song, leaving me constantly looking forward to the next violin section.

The other three members are also very talented and provide excellent support. Mayor of Kāpiti and Jaunas’s sister, Janet Holborow, graces the stage as a cellist and backing vocalist (among other instruments). Accordionist and backing vocalist Dr Mel Garber is also fantastic, and Delia Shanly rounds off the group nicely with various percussion instruments.

One of the things that immediately stands out once The Crimson Club starts playing is how much fun they are having on stage. This is one of the most crucial aspects of a cabaret-style show (or any show, really). When the audience sees the performers are having a great time, it adds to the atmosphere and elevates the experience. This is exactly what happens at the Fringe Bar. Jaunas, Holborow, Garber, and Shanly are all clearly having a fantastic time, and in turn, the audience is vibing, laughing, and at times, singing along.

While the show is overall exceptionally entertaining, there are a couple of minor issues. There are a few musical moments where the group momentarily loses cohesion, slightly throwing off the momentum of a song. However, to their credit, they quickly recover and continue unperturbed. There also seem to be a few technical issues throughout the show, particularly with sound balancing. At times, in the lower range, Jaunas’s voice is not clearly audible over the music, while at other times, her violin peaks causing some distortion. Various other instruments also experience balancing issues, which slightly detracts from the experience. That being said, these issues are minor, and overall, the experience remains overwhelmingly positive.

One of the best aspects of The Crimson Club is their unique and fun musical style. They use their unusual array of instruments to great effect, mostly playing covers. I am a huge fan of covers presented in an entirely different way, and that’s exactly what they do. They take well-known songs and inject them with violin, accordion, and Jaunas’s quirky delivery (sometimes featuring fun altered lyrics). A standout number in this category is their rendition of Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, which they completely make their own to hilarious effect.

They also perform a few original songs, each showcasing the group’s lively and animated style. Standouts include a brilliant and witty song (half in French) about Jaunas’s deep love for her husband (who is French) and a very silly, funny song about searching for lost keys. The audience eats these up, laughing and clearly enjoying every moment.

Overall, The Crimson Club’s performance at the Fringe Bar is vibrant and charming. Their fun and unique musical style, combined with Jaunas’s eccentric and quirky vibe, results in an entertaining cabaret experience. While there are some minor technical issues, they do not remotely detract from the sheer joy felt both on stage and in the audience. I highly recommend catching a performance from this amazing group!

The Crimson Club is performing once more in the Wellington Fringe Festival at St Peter’s Village Hall in Paekākāriki on March 7th.

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