Camille O’Sullivan – Sydney Festival

Sydney needs a permanent performance space that has as much personality as the Spiegeltent – with its mirrors and coloured glass.

Camille emerged from the audience and, competing with the bells from St Mary’s across the road, her first song was appropriately Nick Cave’s God is in the House.

She inhabits a song as much as sings it and has a voice that ranges from a satin huskiness to a raw powerful raunchiness that almost rivals Janis Joplin – several up-tempo rock things displaying that.

But the song that moved me most was Fascinating Aida’s Look Mummy No Hands (about a daughter’s relationship with her mother) and – from stillness in the room – I was not alone.

Her opening persona was dark, mysterious, powerful;   but as the evening wore on she became more anecdotally Irish, resembling some talented garrulous singer down at the local pub. Do these personas gel or should she choose which to emphasise?

Aiming for a shorter set (70 minutes as opposed to 90 plus) would make it easier to maintain the mystery.

Still, I can’t think of anyone local Camille O’Sullivan absolutely reminds me of, so don’t miss her while she’s here. (MMu)

Until Jan 18, The Famous Spiegeltent, Hyde Park North, $65, 1300 856 876, sydneyfestival.org.au 

Written by Michael Muir