ONE4REVIEW - EDINBURGH
http://one4review.co.uk/2024/08/skank-sinatra-4/
one4review | On 17, Aug 2024
A Drag act parodying Frank Sinatra songs? In the wrong hands this would just be a by the numbers bad late night karaoke, but this is definitely not.
From the diva entrance you are brought into Jens Radda glamorous/amorous life through a narrative of songs linked to cities throughout the world from The Chairman of the Board and his daughter Nancy.
Particularly funny was the Berlin experience of standing in a queue hoping to get into an exclusive nightclub. (“Everyone wore black”) and how moving to Queensland was not quite what the name suggested.
One strong parody was about the positives/negatives in relationships with on “You Can’t Take That Away From Me” and “Bang Bang” is well ….just as it says on the tin.
Not only does Jens look amazing in glitter and glitz (Think Wilma Flintstone crossed with Lady Gaga) but is an accomplished musician too, tinkering the ivories to much aplomb (how they didn’t break a nail I don’t know) and vocally spot on.
Interaction with the audience is always key too and is never mean spirited, just dancing nicely on the borderline a la Dame Edna.
Jens Radda is an artist gaining momentum. Ensure you get a ticket for the Camp Bestival of the Festival.
★ ★ ★ ★
Guest Reviewer – Steven
Assembly George Square Studios – Studio 4
22.40 (1hr)
Until 22nd August (not 19)
ISOLATED NATION
https://isolatednation.com/articles/2024/2/19/fringe-review-skank-sinatra-is-elegant-and-debaucherous?format=amp
"SKANK SINATRA" IS ELEGANT AND DEBAUCHEROUS | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
February 19, 2024 Fynn Ryan
Start spreading the news: Drag superstar Jens Radda is touring Australia with their electrifying variety act, Skank Sinatra!
Amidst Fringe World Festival’s array of extraordinary acts, Jens Radda’s ‘Skank Sinatra’ is in a league of its own; performed in the intimate Ellington Jazz Club, Radda takes to the stage in a musically motivated auto-biographic performance brimming with humour and heart.
With their acrylics tapping atop a grand-piano, Jens Radda takes us along their journey of self-discovery, complete with musical numbers and stand-up material. Radda is a charismatic and charming artist who had the audience in the palm of their hands (at one point I was told off because I was laughing too hard/ got crowd-worked to shreds.)
Radda waltzes onto the stage oozing confidence: within a minute the crowd is worked, the piano is played and the veil is lifted. Talented, and treating the stage as if it were a runway, Radda wastes no time with song-after-song and joke-after-joke.
Elegant, debaucherous, and above all, a roaring good time; Skank Sinatra is a show-stopper that will leave your sides aching and your heart content. Skank Sinatra and any future endeavours by Jens Radda should be sought after; a perfect night-out with your nearest and dearest.
OUT IN PERTH
https://www.outinperth.com/review-skank-sinatra-is-sassy-sexy-and-sensational/
Skank Sinatra | The Ellington | til Feb 7 | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Review | ‘Skank Sinatra’ is sassy, sexy and sensational
Skank Sinatra’s opening night at The Ellington Jazz Club was a sell-out and for good reason. Skank’s (aka Jens Radda) new show is sensational. Being a solo performer there are no safety nets. If the voice is off scale or the jokes fall flat then that’s all ‘tough titties’, but in Skanks’ case, this sassy ‘broad’ delivered some classy hysterical dialogue (no F’s or C’s), paired with impeccable comedic timing and with laugh out loud facial expressions that clearly sets her way above the rest. Skank was a joy to watch and I was totally absorbed and invested in her 60-minute set piece.
Dressed in a pink and red ensemble and with a face like Angie Dickinson (in her good years) a body like Keira Knightley and paying homage to a 1970s Darrell Lee-inspired checkout chick (you know the extended shoulder-to shoulder huge pink satin bow around the neck) accessorised with a smartly-bouffant platinum wig, Skank certainly looked the star!
Changing the lyric lines of popular classic songs to convey the story of her journey from WAAPA to stardom came with some interesting surprises. Skank’s baritone voice has a wonderfully-rich tone which equally matched her own excellent keyboard accompaniment skills on the Yamaha grand. One never over-powered the other, which only very few performers achieve these days.
There were so many memorable numbers, but if I had to pick it would be Cher’s Bang Bang, Sinatra’s Strangers In The Night and Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want To Be With You, plus Minnelli’s New York, New York. I particularly loved the Berlin rave warehouse story, so well-written and delivered with frenetic pace and humour; it was comedy at its best.
Before moving to Australia in 2007, Jens Radda grew up in South Africa to a Danish and Afrikaans speaking family. A WAAPA’s Musical Theatre graduate in 2016, Jens studied Clowning with Philippe Gaulier in Paris and Vocal Technique at Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen. Such is his approach to theatre that it didn’t come by chance, it took a lot of study, effort and hard work, which today now pays dividends as he entertains to sold-out shows in Edinburgh, Adelaide and now in Perth. I salute you, Jens Radda!
Terry Larder
EAST SIDE FM
https://eastsidefm.org/review-slay-the-pain-away/
Review: “Slay the Pain Away”
Skank Sinatra at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 15th September
A myriad of emotions befell upon me as I walked two flights of stairs to the cabaret club inside the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel. One that did not cross my mind was embarrassment. As I handed my phone over, the ticket wrangler informed me I had the wrong pass. Unfortunately I had arrived a week too early.
Giddy to arrive on the actual date of the performance, I was struck with amazement of the decadence of the decor within the Cabaret Club. Grandeur mixed with nostalgia can best describe it, a perfect backdrop for what is to come.
As the lights dimmed, Jens Radda aka Skank Sinatra entered the cabaret club readily served sass to the audience, holding court with such command and vigour. With cheek they bantered with the audience, adding to the immersive experience.
Jens Radda was a brilliant performer, absolutely slaying renditions of iconic Frank Sinatra songs. The parody of New York, New York but instead the performer inserted Melbourne ironically, as a playful jab at the Sydney audience.
Throughout the show bestowed upon my face a smile at its widest, a mind of wonderment, bereft of heinous thoughts and anxieties, a truly awe inducing show. Simply, it was and shall remain an amazing experience.
The highlight of the show was the eloquent dabbling of My Way and That’s Life. Each song equal of their magnitude and musical punch, Jens understood one must not end with My Way, but sometimes one cannot help themselves to bring the house down with the obligatory end of such a song.
I was transported. Transfixed upon the performance, I truly loved it. For a show to so easily strip the wandering mind of all other thoughts other than, why am I smiling so much singular tears are dropping down my blushing cheeks? I cannot adequately put into words the enjoyment I experienced.
WEEKEND NOTES
https://www.weekendnotes.com/jens-radda-skank-sinatra-butterfly-club/
This queer cabaret talent will knock you off your feet.
Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra can be found down the Carson Place Laneway in the city just off Little Collins Street - at The Butterfly Club. Not here for a long time, shows are on at 7 pm for approximately 55-60 minutes from now till Saturday 3 June 2022. Get your tickets here to bask in this undeniable talent that'll have you laughing in the aisles and in awe at how fiercely and intelligently it is delivered. Witty, saucy and glamorous, this is a class act.
Skank Sinatra is a brand new comedy cabaret show from Jens Radda (Yens - pronounced the European way) who returns from award-winning performances in Adelaide and Queensland. It's no surprise when you experience the show as talent oozes out of every of Jens' multicultural pores. A surprising gem down an alleyway and directed by Olivia Charalambous, it's a show not to be missed. Prepare to climb many stairs on the way to this stairway to a heavenly night. Yes, it's obvious I was impressed and mesmerised! Plus The Butterfly Club is a quirky, kitschy place you just have to visit. They have a huge lineup of shows every year, so stay in touch via social media.
Jens Radda's presence on stage is undeniable with her incredibly long limbs, Marlene Dietrich-esq suit, a perfect touch of bling without being overdone, incredible eye makeup and perfect comic timing. Jens is beautiful and classy and delivers a highly intelligent performance as she plays with words and imaginatively and appropriately embeds them in songs, which are perfectly delivered and nuanced. Every moment on stage is engaging, with keyboard and vocal skills the cherry on top. If you love queer cabaret that's a touch above the rest and you want a great night out while supporting local talent and the Arts, get booking!
WHAT’S ON SYDNEY
https://www.whatsonsydney.com/reviews/jens-radda-skank-sinatra-review-1862
Reviewed by Cynthia Ning
The Sydney Fringe Festival 2023 is in full swing and amongst the list of incredible acts, Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra is a standout one-woman cabaret drag show.
Featured late into the night at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, the architecture and historical decor brought vintage vibes as we were seated at round tables fitting 3-4 people comfortably. Drinks were available for patrons at the bar as the crowd trickled in of various ages and enjoyed the show. Of course, the best seats in the house were closest to the stage where you got to see the Queen herself up close.
The deep magenta lighting against the dark set felt electric, lights dimmed and an announcement was made to snap as many photos of Jens (pronounced with a Y as she is European) Radda as possible to post on socials. She immediately drew people in with her warm and playful nature as she interacted with the audience before gracefully stepping onto the stage in 9-inch heels.
The crisp white power suits and signature platinum blonde wigs were a clever choice as they became a complimentary canvas for the light changes from lime green to crimson red. With make-up, costume and hair on point, I would love to learn how she does her eye-catching mesmerising sparkly eyeshadow.
We got a glimpse into the life of Jens Radda and her journey to be here with us at the Sydney show. Born in South Africa and growing up in the Sunshine Coast, she dived into her self-discovery and secret sauna spots, entwining it with uniquely Australian humour that had us all gagging. Jens gently poked fun at her musical talent coming from her parents sending her to private school with every number spilling out saucy details of her adventures from home to Berlin.
Matt the light and sound technician worked non-stop behind the scenes. Being the perfect distraction for the costume change before the curtain call. Her deliberate short, sharp movements and expressions said it all when recalling men from her past and her professional career to date.
The small and intimate venue could not stop Jens Radda her feeling like she was playing at a sold-out stadium with personal renditions of classic songs such as Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down, Strangers in the Night and I Did It My Way. She won the hearts of the audience with not only her quick-witted dialogue and sultry voice but her radiant presence.
A delightful after-dinner show that is only a little naughty and highly entertaining to be a part of.
This Fabulous Cabaret Queen is stamping her mark across every major city in Australia, so make sure to go see Jens Radda wherever you can.
BROADWAY WORLD SYDNEY
https://www.broadwayworld.com/sydney/article/Reviewer-Kym-Vaitiekus-Shares-His-Thoughts-on-SKANK-SINATRA-20230920
Jens Radda presents his one woman exuberant cabaret performance SKANK SINATRA that explores his life as a gay soul who leaves Brisbane for the bigger cities to share his talented gifts.
Jumping from keyboards to repartee to audience's laps to glorious vocals, Radda selects a range of hit songs and masterfully changes the lyrics that creates guffaws and audience delight.
Radda shares his story of growing up in South Africa speaking Afrikaans and Danish, with a father who experienced the Iraq war, his time at a private school with it’s trials, to his work as a bartender where he spontaneously created his first cabaret performance as Elvis.
His Adventures are told with twisted lyrics to the likes of ‘I Still Call Australia Home’, ‘New York New York’, ‘Strangers in the Night’, ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, and ‘That’s Life’.
With the exuberance of song, Radda describes his adventures to a Melbourne sauna. This number is cleverly bawdy without the crime of degrading smut. Maybe Radda likes to call it smut or skank but the inventiveness and insightful humour create the perfect balance of lewdness and hilarity. There's a cheeky charm to this rendition of risqué lyrics. The perfect cabaret number.
Kudos to the fringe for selecting the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel with its "charming vintage vibe". The decor is delightfully appropriate. To would be more enticing if they created a dark and moody environment by taking out some light bulbs so the stage lighting is the focus of the performances. They are aware of this as there was cloth hanging on some lights to diminish their light level.
A part of the cabaret genre is to be in a darken, salacious venue with a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd that creates a intimate experience. Even though the audience is spaced out due to the large dining tables we sat at, Radda’s expert skills worked the room with aplomb. He ensured the entire audience were engaged and part of the experience.
It's interesting to see that the crowd was largely woman in their early twenties. Similar to other gay venues around town, drag shows are popular with this generation.
Radda goes beyond the stereotypical drag performer, as they are the accomplished cabaret star with the chops and smarts to entertain and tantalise us all.
The production images included in this article are in the cabaret vein with expressive and exaggerated faces, but they don’t do justice to the glamorous look and beautiful lines that is the face of Skank Sinatra live.
A thoroughly entertaining night of clever, comic, crude and cheeky cabaret. Check it out.
ARTSHUB
https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/cabaret-review-jens-radda-skank-sinatra-the-butterfly-club-2639190/
Cabaret review: Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra, The Butterfly Club
This drag queen and comedian has a whole lot of presence and talent.
7 Jun 2023
Kate Mulqueen
‘Radda has an extraordinary presence’
Skank Sinatra was the second solo drag cabaret show by Melbourne-based, South African-born drag performer and comedian, Jens Radda, based on the music of Frank Sinatra. The show was suitably held at Melbourne’s diva-den and forging-fire of all the greats (Eddie Perfect and Tim Minchin both famously began their careers here) – The Butterfly Club.
For all his youth, Radda has had some impressive forging already – he’s worked with cabaret legends Finucane & Smith (House of the Heart, FUTURE.JOY.CLUB), performed his previous solo show Frankly Hank (also based on songs of Frank Sinatra) at Perth Fringe in 2017, and has musical theatre training at WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) and clowning training at the famous Parisian school École Philippe Gaulier under his belt. And it’s working for him – his command of body, voice and comic timing is honed and a marvel to watch.
In Skank Sinatra, Radda told personal stories of his life – growing up in South Africa, moving to Melbourne, the challenges of dating another drag performer and all that long-term relationships entail – connected by cabaret versions of Sinatra songs with, as you would expect, a hefty portion of bawdy zingers. The Sinatra classic, ‘New York, New York’, became – with an ironic twist of the lip – ‘Melbourne, Melbourne’.
Radda effortlessly moved from distinct acted scenes to belted-out numbers, stand-up comedy and audience interaction, from performing on piano – including ballads he half-apologised for (‘if you’ll indulge me’) – to big band jazz numbers where he seemed most at home. He kept the pace lively, and there wasn’t much dwelling in the ‘My Way’ end of the Sinatra catalogue. His version of Nancy Sinatra’s classic ‘Bang Bang’ by way of ‘He Had it Coming’ from Chicago was truly inspired, and an example of Radda’s style of performance – maxing the glam, good-time energy to 100%.
Radda’s strength is as a comic actor, and the most effective moments were those where he could employ both his natural sense of comedy and his acting abilities. A memorable sequence was recreating his attempt to enter the infamously-difficult-to-get-into Berghain nightclub in Berlin, employing a soundscape of heavy uber-cool synth, blue lighting and his pitch-perfect characterisation of the arbiter-of-cool bouncer, dripping with perpetual disdain.
The show flowed nicely, making the most of shifts in tone and pace, and the simple set –festoon lighting around the red curtains, side table with flowers, cocktail shaker and martini glass – completed the Vegas Sinatra-era dressing room aesthetic. Radda’s opening silent number pointed out each item and, in a beautiful example of his clowning abilities, called for applause – which the audience cheerfully supplied. The literal show-stopping dramatic device dropped in to enable a costume change (another glam suit – white – and this time a Marilyn-style wig) was a bit of a non sequitur and perhaps a touch forced, but this is cabaret. And everyone loves a costume change.
Radda has an extraordinary presence, and it was very difficult to look away. He towered above us on The Butterfly Club’s tiny cabaret stage in his teetering heels, Republican-red suit, Stepford Wife-esque hair and sparkling silver eyelids. His control and ability to hold the floor was impressive and a joy to experience.
I look forward to what Jens Radda does next: I think he’s really one to watch.
THEATRE THOUGHTS
https://www.theatrethoughtsaus.online/post/jens-radda-skank-sinatra-sydney-fringe-festival-nsw
Juliana Payne
A playful night of double entendres and new takes on classic lounge tunes. Go see it!
I really don’t know why Jens Radda calls his drag alter-ego ‘Skank’ because she is anything but. More like a cross between Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, Skank Sinatra delivers a glamorously funny night of bawdy double-entendres, political gags and parodies of classic lounge tunes.
Radda gives us a potted version of his life story, speckled with jokes and songs to highlight the lowlights. In a lovely rich contralto voice, we hear hilariously reworked classics, like 'Please Take Her Away From Me' and 'Bang Bang'. He’s a versatile performer, with a very funny and very well executed piece on the renownedly exclusive Berlin club 'Berghain', complete with German techno accompaniment. We hear 'Fly Me To The Moon' in several languages, and then a gorgeous classic rendition of 'That’s Life' to send us back out into the night.
Jens’ comedy is allusive, absurd and hugely entertaining. Not sure whether the short tech guy assisting was part of the act, but he nearly upstaged Jens, what with his missed cues and not being able to reach the follow-spot which towered above him. A true pro, Jens didn’t miss a beat and simply incorporated it into the act to the audience’s delight.
This is a bit of short review, as the show is on a short run, and we need to get this posted so that people can read it and get to the show. Its starts late, so you can grab a nice dinner and a few drinks in the city, and head to Skank Sinatra for a fun and playful night out.
BROADWAY WORLD MELBOURNE
https://www.broadwayworld.com/sydney/article/REVIEW-Jens-Raddas-Fabulously-Fun-Camp-Cabaret-SKANK-SINATRA-Has-Opened-At-The-Butterfly-Club-20230530
REVIEW: Jens Radda's Fabulously Fun Camp Cabaret SKANK SINATRA Has Opened At The Butterfly Club
SKANK SINATRA is Jens Radda’s latest queer cabaret creation, blending their personal story with a compilation of ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ well known standards. Premiering at The Butterfly Club, this new work is a masterclass in contemporary drag cabaret.
Skank Sinatra is told through Jens Radda’s alter ego, a fabulous bottle blonde Drag Queen. For the performance Jens dons a stunning red pant suit that shows off her svelte figure with the look finished off with towering platform stilettos. The stage is simply adorned with a keyboard and a side table for her martini ‘water’ glass, props and vase of stunning roses from her partner who is regularly referenced through the show.
With a combination of physical humour and insightful observations, Jens shares her story, from her childhood as a young migrant family landed in Queensland to deciding as a ‘young twink’ that they saw their future elsewhere. The work is naturally Melbourne centric, with amusing observations of her experiences in Sydney fuelling the divide between the two major capitals which was interesting viewing as BroadwayWorld Sydney’s Senior Editor on remote assignment. The stories are enhanced by Jens’ interpretations of some of the songs that Frank Sinatra is famous for singing. With her rich voice, which has the benefit of the deep range, Jens reworks the lyrics of works like George and Ira Gershwin’s You Can’t Take That Away From Me and John Kander and Fred Ebb’s Theme from New York, New York. Jens’ history as a WAAPA Musical Theatre graduate shows as little references to musicals are scattered throughout her patter with a final showtune thrown in for good measure.
Throughout the performance, Jens connects with the audience, both with eye contact and ensuring that her renditions of songs have a meaning for the audience and are not simply just a singer performing their favourite songs. Unlike many performers who want to classify their performances as cabaret, Jens ensures that any audience interaction is done with a purpose and not just ‘ticking a box’ of common characteristics of the genre. She utilises a variety of performance styles from patter, spoken work storytelling, improvisation and pure poignant songs like her rendition of Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern’s The Way You Look Tonight which she performs with her own keyboard accompaniment.
For anyone who appreciates either a well-crafted cabaret, is a fan of Sinatra’s songs, enjoys a well told story, or loves a well turned out Queen, SKANK SINATRA is a must see piece of escapist theatre.
THE PLUS ONES
https://theplusones.com/melbourne/2023/05/30/skank-sinatra-melbournes-spicy-new-cabaret-drag-show/
Skank Sinatra – Melbourne’s Spicy New Cabaret Drag Show
MAY 30, 2023
Meet Skank Sinatra, she’s fabulous, fierce, and will have you in stitches with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s classics.
Debuting in Melbourne for the first time, Skank Sinatra is a cabaret queen’s Queer and saucy take on Sinatra songbook.
The high-energy show is packed with comedy, live singing (she has a fabulous voice) and piano from drag queen Jens Radda. The story follows Jens’ life immigrating from South Africa to Australia as a 12 year-old boy. It highlights the key challenges, dramas, and straight up scandals the drag queen has partaken in over the years.
Sinatra’s classics have been updated to re-tell key moments in Skank Sinatra’s live. Change “New York, New York” to “Melbourne,” add in a few lines about the weather and tram tracks, and you’ve got a catchy and hilarious tune.
Skank Sinatra takes you on a journey from saucy forbidden love affairs, to her drag queen beginnings at a shady Melbourne bar, all to way to Berlin’s famous club, Berghain.
Skank’s light-hearted and self-sacrificing humour had the audience erupting in laughter, applause and tears all night. We give it a 10/10 for entertainment factor!
If you love drag, cabaret, or comedy, Skank Sinatra is a must see! The show runs from 29 May – 3 June, 2023 at the Butterfly Club with tickets starting from $30. Get your tickets here.
It’s Sinatra with a spicy twist. Meet drag queen Skank Sinatra as she tells her hilarious and entertaining story through song and comedy.
http://one4review.co.uk/2024/08/skank-sinatra-4/
one4review | On 17, Aug 2024
A Drag act parodying Frank Sinatra songs? In the wrong hands this would just be a by the numbers bad late night karaoke, but this is definitely not.
From the diva entrance you are brought into Jens Radda glamorous/amorous life through a narrative of songs linked to cities throughout the world from The Chairman of the Board and his daughter Nancy.
Particularly funny was the Berlin experience of standing in a queue hoping to get into an exclusive nightclub. (“Everyone wore black”) and how moving to Queensland was not quite what the name suggested.
One strong parody was about the positives/negatives in relationships with on “You Can’t Take That Away From Me” and “Bang Bang” is well ….just as it says on the tin.
Not only does Jens look amazing in glitter and glitz (Think Wilma Flintstone crossed with Lady Gaga) but is an accomplished musician too, tinkering the ivories to much aplomb (how they didn’t break a nail I don’t know) and vocally spot on.
Interaction with the audience is always key too and is never mean spirited, just dancing nicely on the borderline a la Dame Edna.
Jens Radda is an artist gaining momentum. Ensure you get a ticket for the Camp Bestival of the Festival.
★ ★ ★ ★
Guest Reviewer – Steven
Assembly George Square Studios – Studio 4
22.40 (1hr)
Until 22nd August (not 19)
ISOLATED NATION
https://isolatednation.com/articles/2024/2/19/fringe-review-skank-sinatra-is-elegant-and-debaucherous?format=amp
"SKANK SINATRA" IS ELEGANT AND DEBAUCHEROUS | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
February 19, 2024 Fynn Ryan
Start spreading the news: Drag superstar Jens Radda is touring Australia with their electrifying variety act, Skank Sinatra!
Amidst Fringe World Festival’s array of extraordinary acts, Jens Radda’s ‘Skank Sinatra’ is in a league of its own; performed in the intimate Ellington Jazz Club, Radda takes to the stage in a musically motivated auto-biographic performance brimming with humour and heart.
With their acrylics tapping atop a grand-piano, Jens Radda takes us along their journey of self-discovery, complete with musical numbers and stand-up material. Radda is a charismatic and charming artist who had the audience in the palm of their hands (at one point I was told off because I was laughing too hard/ got crowd-worked to shreds.)
Radda waltzes onto the stage oozing confidence: within a minute the crowd is worked, the piano is played and the veil is lifted. Talented, and treating the stage as if it were a runway, Radda wastes no time with song-after-song and joke-after-joke.
Elegant, debaucherous, and above all, a roaring good time; Skank Sinatra is a show-stopper that will leave your sides aching and your heart content. Skank Sinatra and any future endeavours by Jens Radda should be sought after; a perfect night-out with your nearest and dearest.
OUT IN PERTH
https://www.outinperth.com/review-skank-sinatra-is-sassy-sexy-and-sensational/
Skank Sinatra | The Ellington | til Feb 7 | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Review | ‘Skank Sinatra’ is sassy, sexy and sensational
Skank Sinatra’s opening night at The Ellington Jazz Club was a sell-out and for good reason. Skank’s (aka Jens Radda) new show is sensational. Being a solo performer there are no safety nets. If the voice is off scale or the jokes fall flat then that’s all ‘tough titties’, but in Skanks’ case, this sassy ‘broad’ delivered some classy hysterical dialogue (no F’s or C’s), paired with impeccable comedic timing and with laugh out loud facial expressions that clearly sets her way above the rest. Skank was a joy to watch and I was totally absorbed and invested in her 60-minute set piece.
Dressed in a pink and red ensemble and with a face like Angie Dickinson (in her good years) a body like Keira Knightley and paying homage to a 1970s Darrell Lee-inspired checkout chick (you know the extended shoulder-to shoulder huge pink satin bow around the neck) accessorised with a smartly-bouffant platinum wig, Skank certainly looked the star!
Changing the lyric lines of popular classic songs to convey the story of her journey from WAAPA to stardom came with some interesting surprises. Skank’s baritone voice has a wonderfully-rich tone which equally matched her own excellent keyboard accompaniment skills on the Yamaha grand. One never over-powered the other, which only very few performers achieve these days.
There were so many memorable numbers, but if I had to pick it would be Cher’s Bang Bang, Sinatra’s Strangers In The Night and Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want To Be With You, plus Minnelli’s New York, New York. I particularly loved the Berlin rave warehouse story, so well-written and delivered with frenetic pace and humour; it was comedy at its best.
Before moving to Australia in 2007, Jens Radda grew up in South Africa to a Danish and Afrikaans speaking family. A WAAPA’s Musical Theatre graduate in 2016, Jens studied Clowning with Philippe Gaulier in Paris and Vocal Technique at Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen. Such is his approach to theatre that it didn’t come by chance, it took a lot of study, effort and hard work, which today now pays dividends as he entertains to sold-out shows in Edinburgh, Adelaide and now in Perth. I salute you, Jens Radda!
Terry Larder
EAST SIDE FM
https://eastsidefm.org/review-slay-the-pain-away/
Review: “Slay the Pain Away”
Skank Sinatra at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 15th September
A myriad of emotions befell upon me as I walked two flights of stairs to the cabaret club inside the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel. One that did not cross my mind was embarrassment. As I handed my phone over, the ticket wrangler informed me I had the wrong pass. Unfortunately I had arrived a week too early.
Giddy to arrive on the actual date of the performance, I was struck with amazement of the decadence of the decor within the Cabaret Club. Grandeur mixed with nostalgia can best describe it, a perfect backdrop for what is to come.
As the lights dimmed, Jens Radda aka Skank Sinatra entered the cabaret club readily served sass to the audience, holding court with such command and vigour. With cheek they bantered with the audience, adding to the immersive experience.
Jens Radda was a brilliant performer, absolutely slaying renditions of iconic Frank Sinatra songs. The parody of New York, New York but instead the performer inserted Melbourne ironically, as a playful jab at the Sydney audience.
Throughout the show bestowed upon my face a smile at its widest, a mind of wonderment, bereft of heinous thoughts and anxieties, a truly awe inducing show. Simply, it was and shall remain an amazing experience.
The highlight of the show was the eloquent dabbling of My Way and That’s Life. Each song equal of their magnitude and musical punch, Jens understood one must not end with My Way, but sometimes one cannot help themselves to bring the house down with the obligatory end of such a song.
I was transported. Transfixed upon the performance, I truly loved it. For a show to so easily strip the wandering mind of all other thoughts other than, why am I smiling so much singular tears are dropping down my blushing cheeks? I cannot adequately put into words the enjoyment I experienced.
WEEKEND NOTES
https://www.weekendnotes.com/jens-radda-skank-sinatra-butterfly-club/
This queer cabaret talent will knock you off your feet.
Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra can be found down the Carson Place Laneway in the city just off Little Collins Street - at The Butterfly Club. Not here for a long time, shows are on at 7 pm for approximately 55-60 minutes from now till Saturday 3 June 2022. Get your tickets here to bask in this undeniable talent that'll have you laughing in the aisles and in awe at how fiercely and intelligently it is delivered. Witty, saucy and glamorous, this is a class act.
Skank Sinatra is a brand new comedy cabaret show from Jens Radda (Yens - pronounced the European way) who returns from award-winning performances in Adelaide and Queensland. It's no surprise when you experience the show as talent oozes out of every of Jens' multicultural pores. A surprising gem down an alleyway and directed by Olivia Charalambous, it's a show not to be missed. Prepare to climb many stairs on the way to this stairway to a heavenly night. Yes, it's obvious I was impressed and mesmerised! Plus The Butterfly Club is a quirky, kitschy place you just have to visit. They have a huge lineup of shows every year, so stay in touch via social media.
Jens Radda's presence on stage is undeniable with her incredibly long limbs, Marlene Dietrich-esq suit, a perfect touch of bling without being overdone, incredible eye makeup and perfect comic timing. Jens is beautiful and classy and delivers a highly intelligent performance as she plays with words and imaginatively and appropriately embeds them in songs, which are perfectly delivered and nuanced. Every moment on stage is engaging, with keyboard and vocal skills the cherry on top. If you love queer cabaret that's a touch above the rest and you want a great night out while supporting local talent and the Arts, get booking!
WHAT’S ON SYDNEY
https://www.whatsonsydney.com/reviews/jens-radda-skank-sinatra-review-1862
Reviewed by Cynthia Ning
The Sydney Fringe Festival 2023 is in full swing and amongst the list of incredible acts, Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra is a standout one-woman cabaret drag show.
Featured late into the night at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, the architecture and historical decor brought vintage vibes as we were seated at round tables fitting 3-4 people comfortably. Drinks were available for patrons at the bar as the crowd trickled in of various ages and enjoyed the show. Of course, the best seats in the house were closest to the stage where you got to see the Queen herself up close.
The deep magenta lighting against the dark set felt electric, lights dimmed and an announcement was made to snap as many photos of Jens (pronounced with a Y as she is European) Radda as possible to post on socials. She immediately drew people in with her warm and playful nature as she interacted with the audience before gracefully stepping onto the stage in 9-inch heels.
The crisp white power suits and signature platinum blonde wigs were a clever choice as they became a complimentary canvas for the light changes from lime green to crimson red. With make-up, costume and hair on point, I would love to learn how she does her eye-catching mesmerising sparkly eyeshadow.
We got a glimpse into the life of Jens Radda and her journey to be here with us at the Sydney show. Born in South Africa and growing up in the Sunshine Coast, she dived into her self-discovery and secret sauna spots, entwining it with uniquely Australian humour that had us all gagging. Jens gently poked fun at her musical talent coming from her parents sending her to private school with every number spilling out saucy details of her adventures from home to Berlin.
Matt the light and sound technician worked non-stop behind the scenes. Being the perfect distraction for the costume change before the curtain call. Her deliberate short, sharp movements and expressions said it all when recalling men from her past and her professional career to date.
The small and intimate venue could not stop Jens Radda her feeling like she was playing at a sold-out stadium with personal renditions of classic songs such as Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down, Strangers in the Night and I Did It My Way. She won the hearts of the audience with not only her quick-witted dialogue and sultry voice but her radiant presence.
A delightful after-dinner show that is only a little naughty and highly entertaining to be a part of.
This Fabulous Cabaret Queen is stamping her mark across every major city in Australia, so make sure to go see Jens Radda wherever you can.
BROADWAY WORLD SYDNEY
https://www.broadwayworld.com/sydney/article/Reviewer-Kym-Vaitiekus-Shares-His-Thoughts-on-SKANK-SINATRA-20230920
Jens Radda presents his one woman exuberant cabaret performance SKANK SINATRA that explores his life as a gay soul who leaves Brisbane for the bigger cities to share his talented gifts.
Jumping from keyboards to repartee to audience's laps to glorious vocals, Radda selects a range of hit songs and masterfully changes the lyrics that creates guffaws and audience delight.
Radda shares his story of growing up in South Africa speaking Afrikaans and Danish, with a father who experienced the Iraq war, his time at a private school with it’s trials, to his work as a bartender where he spontaneously created his first cabaret performance as Elvis.
His Adventures are told with twisted lyrics to the likes of ‘I Still Call Australia Home’, ‘New York New York’, ‘Strangers in the Night’, ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, and ‘That’s Life’.
With the exuberance of song, Radda describes his adventures to a Melbourne sauna. This number is cleverly bawdy without the crime of degrading smut. Maybe Radda likes to call it smut or skank but the inventiveness and insightful humour create the perfect balance of lewdness and hilarity. There's a cheeky charm to this rendition of risqué lyrics. The perfect cabaret number.
Kudos to the fringe for selecting the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel with its "charming vintage vibe". The decor is delightfully appropriate. To would be more enticing if they created a dark and moody environment by taking out some light bulbs so the stage lighting is the focus of the performances. They are aware of this as there was cloth hanging on some lights to diminish their light level.
A part of the cabaret genre is to be in a darken, salacious venue with a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd that creates a intimate experience. Even though the audience is spaced out due to the large dining tables we sat at, Radda’s expert skills worked the room with aplomb. He ensured the entire audience were engaged and part of the experience.
It's interesting to see that the crowd was largely woman in their early twenties. Similar to other gay venues around town, drag shows are popular with this generation.
Radda goes beyond the stereotypical drag performer, as they are the accomplished cabaret star with the chops and smarts to entertain and tantalise us all.
The production images included in this article are in the cabaret vein with expressive and exaggerated faces, but they don’t do justice to the glamorous look and beautiful lines that is the face of Skank Sinatra live.
A thoroughly entertaining night of clever, comic, crude and cheeky cabaret. Check it out.
ARTSHUB
https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/cabaret-review-jens-radda-skank-sinatra-the-butterfly-club-2639190/
Cabaret review: Jens Radda: Skank Sinatra, The Butterfly Club
This drag queen and comedian has a whole lot of presence and talent.
7 Jun 2023
Kate Mulqueen
‘Radda has an extraordinary presence’
Skank Sinatra was the second solo drag cabaret show by Melbourne-based, South African-born drag performer and comedian, Jens Radda, based on the music of Frank Sinatra. The show was suitably held at Melbourne’s diva-den and forging-fire of all the greats (Eddie Perfect and Tim Minchin both famously began their careers here) – The Butterfly Club.
For all his youth, Radda has had some impressive forging already – he’s worked with cabaret legends Finucane & Smith (House of the Heart, FUTURE.JOY.CLUB), performed his previous solo show Frankly Hank (also based on songs of Frank Sinatra) at Perth Fringe in 2017, and has musical theatre training at WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) and clowning training at the famous Parisian school École Philippe Gaulier under his belt. And it’s working for him – his command of body, voice and comic timing is honed and a marvel to watch.
In Skank Sinatra, Radda told personal stories of his life – growing up in South Africa, moving to Melbourne, the challenges of dating another drag performer and all that long-term relationships entail – connected by cabaret versions of Sinatra songs with, as you would expect, a hefty portion of bawdy zingers. The Sinatra classic, ‘New York, New York’, became – with an ironic twist of the lip – ‘Melbourne, Melbourne’.
Radda effortlessly moved from distinct acted scenes to belted-out numbers, stand-up comedy and audience interaction, from performing on piano – including ballads he half-apologised for (‘if you’ll indulge me’) – to big band jazz numbers where he seemed most at home. He kept the pace lively, and there wasn’t much dwelling in the ‘My Way’ end of the Sinatra catalogue. His version of Nancy Sinatra’s classic ‘Bang Bang’ by way of ‘He Had it Coming’ from Chicago was truly inspired, and an example of Radda’s style of performance – maxing the glam, good-time energy to 100%.
Radda’s strength is as a comic actor, and the most effective moments were those where he could employ both his natural sense of comedy and his acting abilities. A memorable sequence was recreating his attempt to enter the infamously-difficult-to-get-into Berghain nightclub in Berlin, employing a soundscape of heavy uber-cool synth, blue lighting and his pitch-perfect characterisation of the arbiter-of-cool bouncer, dripping with perpetual disdain.
The show flowed nicely, making the most of shifts in tone and pace, and the simple set –festoon lighting around the red curtains, side table with flowers, cocktail shaker and martini glass – completed the Vegas Sinatra-era dressing room aesthetic. Radda’s opening silent number pointed out each item and, in a beautiful example of his clowning abilities, called for applause – which the audience cheerfully supplied. The literal show-stopping dramatic device dropped in to enable a costume change (another glam suit – white – and this time a Marilyn-style wig) was a bit of a non sequitur and perhaps a touch forced, but this is cabaret. And everyone loves a costume change.
Radda has an extraordinary presence, and it was very difficult to look away. He towered above us on The Butterfly Club’s tiny cabaret stage in his teetering heels, Republican-red suit, Stepford Wife-esque hair and sparkling silver eyelids. His control and ability to hold the floor was impressive and a joy to experience.
I look forward to what Jens Radda does next: I think he’s really one to watch.
THEATRE THOUGHTS
https://www.theatrethoughtsaus.online/post/jens-radda-skank-sinatra-sydney-fringe-festival-nsw
Juliana Payne
A playful night of double entendres and new takes on classic lounge tunes. Go see it!
I really don’t know why Jens Radda calls his drag alter-ego ‘Skank’ because she is anything but. More like a cross between Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, Skank Sinatra delivers a glamorously funny night of bawdy double-entendres, political gags and parodies of classic lounge tunes.
Radda gives us a potted version of his life story, speckled with jokes and songs to highlight the lowlights. In a lovely rich contralto voice, we hear hilariously reworked classics, like 'Please Take Her Away From Me' and 'Bang Bang'. He’s a versatile performer, with a very funny and very well executed piece on the renownedly exclusive Berlin club 'Berghain', complete with German techno accompaniment. We hear 'Fly Me To The Moon' in several languages, and then a gorgeous classic rendition of 'That’s Life' to send us back out into the night.
Jens’ comedy is allusive, absurd and hugely entertaining. Not sure whether the short tech guy assisting was part of the act, but he nearly upstaged Jens, what with his missed cues and not being able to reach the follow-spot which towered above him. A true pro, Jens didn’t miss a beat and simply incorporated it into the act to the audience’s delight.
This is a bit of short review, as the show is on a short run, and we need to get this posted so that people can read it and get to the show. Its starts late, so you can grab a nice dinner and a few drinks in the city, and head to Skank Sinatra for a fun and playful night out.
BROADWAY WORLD MELBOURNE
https://www.broadwayworld.com/sydney/article/REVIEW-Jens-Raddas-Fabulously-Fun-Camp-Cabaret-SKANK-SINATRA-Has-Opened-At-The-Butterfly-Club-20230530
REVIEW: Jens Radda's Fabulously Fun Camp Cabaret SKANK SINATRA Has Opened At The Butterfly Club
SKANK SINATRA is Jens Radda’s latest queer cabaret creation, blending their personal story with a compilation of ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ well known standards. Premiering at The Butterfly Club, this new work is a masterclass in contemporary drag cabaret.
Skank Sinatra is told through Jens Radda’s alter ego, a fabulous bottle blonde Drag Queen. For the performance Jens dons a stunning red pant suit that shows off her svelte figure with the look finished off with towering platform stilettos. The stage is simply adorned with a keyboard and a side table for her martini ‘water’ glass, props and vase of stunning roses from her partner who is regularly referenced through the show.
With a combination of physical humour and insightful observations, Jens shares her story, from her childhood as a young migrant family landed in Queensland to deciding as a ‘young twink’ that they saw their future elsewhere. The work is naturally Melbourne centric, with amusing observations of her experiences in Sydney fuelling the divide between the two major capitals which was interesting viewing as BroadwayWorld Sydney’s Senior Editor on remote assignment. The stories are enhanced by Jens’ interpretations of some of the songs that Frank Sinatra is famous for singing. With her rich voice, which has the benefit of the deep range, Jens reworks the lyrics of works like George and Ira Gershwin’s You Can’t Take That Away From Me and John Kander and Fred Ebb’s Theme from New York, New York. Jens’ history as a WAAPA Musical Theatre graduate shows as little references to musicals are scattered throughout her patter with a final showtune thrown in for good measure.
Throughout the performance, Jens connects with the audience, both with eye contact and ensuring that her renditions of songs have a meaning for the audience and are not simply just a singer performing their favourite songs. Unlike many performers who want to classify their performances as cabaret, Jens ensures that any audience interaction is done with a purpose and not just ‘ticking a box’ of common characteristics of the genre. She utilises a variety of performance styles from patter, spoken work storytelling, improvisation and pure poignant songs like her rendition of Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern’s The Way You Look Tonight which she performs with her own keyboard accompaniment.
For anyone who appreciates either a well-crafted cabaret, is a fan of Sinatra’s songs, enjoys a well told story, or loves a well turned out Queen, SKANK SINATRA is a must see piece of escapist theatre.
THE PLUS ONES
https://theplusones.com/melbourne/2023/05/30/skank-sinatra-melbournes-spicy-new-cabaret-drag-show/
Skank Sinatra – Melbourne’s Spicy New Cabaret Drag Show
MAY 30, 2023
Meet Skank Sinatra, she’s fabulous, fierce, and will have you in stitches with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s classics.
Debuting in Melbourne for the first time, Skank Sinatra is a cabaret queen’s Queer and saucy take on Sinatra songbook.
The high-energy show is packed with comedy, live singing (she has a fabulous voice) and piano from drag queen Jens Radda. The story follows Jens’ life immigrating from South Africa to Australia as a 12 year-old boy. It highlights the key challenges, dramas, and straight up scandals the drag queen has partaken in over the years.
Sinatra’s classics have been updated to re-tell key moments in Skank Sinatra’s live. Change “New York, New York” to “Melbourne,” add in a few lines about the weather and tram tracks, and you’ve got a catchy and hilarious tune.
Skank Sinatra takes you on a journey from saucy forbidden love affairs, to her drag queen beginnings at a shady Melbourne bar, all to way to Berlin’s famous club, Berghain.
Skank’s light-hearted and self-sacrificing humour had the audience erupting in laughter, applause and tears all night. We give it a 10/10 for entertainment factor!
If you love drag, cabaret, or comedy, Skank Sinatra is a must see! The show runs from 29 May – 3 June, 2023 at the Butterfly Club with tickets starting from $30. Get your tickets here.
It’s Sinatra with a spicy twist. Meet drag queen Skank Sinatra as she tells her hilarious and entertaining story through song and comedy.