Si', signorina, sing again!

Authentic Italian accent and genuine jazz passion: Etta D'Elia is back with a renewed version of her brilliant show, Buona Sera Signorina.

While the title quotes a vintage song (not included this time), the subtitle tells it all: Italian Music Meets Jazz... Again!

The atmosphere in the State Theatre Centre is again contagiously cheerful and exciting, from the staged late arrival of Etta, dancing with the head of the WA tarantella academy, to the final shared song, popular but not really Italian – that's amore! (for Italian culture).

The highly skilled vocalist performs in good company. Her multicultural jazz band has keyboard, drum, bass, and one player of multiple instruments requiring breath as well as hands – just like Etta's singing.

Radiant in her flag-green flowing gown, she goes from spectacular singing to giving her renowned lesson in Italian gestures. This time she also welcomes as guest Jess Lally of Bogan Shakespeare, to explore cultural differences and difficulties, fitting them in the classic song Let's call the whole thing off: I say bruschetta, you say bruschetta... Their friendly encounter leads to comparing the immediate reaction to hearing a line or word from a song: the Aussie one sounded quite raucous, compared to Volare, oh-oh!

Etta's conversational illustration of the context for songs enriches the experience, to help everyone find the story and/or the place she sings about. Arrivederci Roma is well-known, but did everyone notice the urchin who goes into the Trevi fountain to pick up the coin?

A more poignant story, linked to a famous voice, location and tradition of the past, is explained about Caruso, a relatively new success.

“I found my love in Portofino”: the first line is in English in the original Italian song, my personal favourite, almost lost in memories of the last century.

Here is another merit of Fringe shows like this: bringing 'lost' works into amazing and amusing musical performances.

Ways of engaging the audience, almost literally, include a song that strongly encourages action now rather than tomorrow. This certainly applies to going to see Etta's show- again!