Top image: Cabaret King Tim Mckew with host William Mora
by Marian Webb
TIM MCKEW‘s performance art extravaganza ‘Come Down With Us’, at William Mora Gallery in Richmond, reprises shows held at Tolarno Galleries in St Kilda, 1979.
On Friday night, Mckew proved that three-and-a-half decades and a dose of laryngitis could not tarnish the sparkle of numbers like ‘Sailor Boys, Sailor Toys’, ‘Tuna – Full Sirena’ and the spooky ‘Night Porter’; his mellow tones and clever, cowardesque lyrics were a delight.
Images by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com
Mckew wore a smart white naval uniform, set off by a series of striking hats by Graeme Hare and Carol Murphy. He lamented a fit of born-again Christianity that saw him throw out the mermaid tail to go with his stunning mermaid hat.
The tail, however, and other pieces of costume history are preserved in photographs by the likes of Rennie Ellis, collages by Vanessa Bianca Harrow and light-boxes by Peter Haffenden. These are exhibited in the gallery floyer.
Friday night’s full house was thoroughly entertained with a tantalizing slice of late 1970s underground theatre. Long may it play.
images © Kerrie Pacholli
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