Camille O'Sullivan - 'Queen of the Fringe'

By E.L. Hardy

New show '10' marks Camille O'Sullivan's tenth year at the Fringe. Camille is well known for her eccentric and transcendental takes on Radiohead, Cave and Brel. These trademark artists, for whom Camille clearly has nothing but adoration and respect, feature in this year's show at the Assembly Room's Music Hall. Her lyric and narrative driven renditions of well known songs render them barely recognisable - in the most wonderful and inspirational way possible. Embodying the character of each number, Camille transforms from icy and brittle to generous and dappy, meowing and bunny hopping her way through instrumentals.

Camille O'Sullivan's following has evolved enormously over the past ten years. Rock star that she is, she bravely continues to mix things up a little. The feel of the evening is initially formal, perhaps because it's unusual to find yourself in a large, traditional, thrust venue while at the fringe, but Camille dissolves any of these concerns by entering through the audience with candles and immediately welcoming us in. She intoxicates the crowd with the pounding of a silver boot and the delicate movement of her fingers; an entire story is told before she's even opened her mouth to sing. She adores her brilliant band, whom she conducts and engages with throughout the set, throwing her body around in appreciation, as if she were too an instrument.

You can't teach gravitas like Camille's. Her voice adapts to fit each story she tells - expressing rage, loneliness, grief, ecstasy and stretching across what seems to be an inordinately wide emotional and musical range. Still, I selfishly wished that this gig be in a more intimate, idiosyncratic and atmospheric space, where it wouldn't have felt uncomfortable to respond when prompted. There was something of a jarring juxtaposition between the eclectic, personal performance and the venue - pricey and propped up with rigidity. Still, that's my fault for coming too late to the party. Those early, exclusive days are (as should be expected) behind us.

PS in short: Ladies and gentlemen: God is in the house.

★★★★★

@postscriptjour

Camille O'Sullivan: 10

30th July-24th August (not 11,12,18)

The Assembly Rooms

21.45

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