Monsters? Not Quite. Magic? Absolutely.

Even before the show started, the Winter Garden’s ambience – with its bright lights, energising beats, and intricate panelling – was electrifying. And that was all before the magnetic seven came out to play.

The night's theme, Monster Songs, promised something wild, maybe even unhinged. But what we got instead was far more polished: sexy, vocally flawless, and, above all, tastefully done. It wasn’t what the title led me to expect, but it absolutely delivered.

I remember thinking, ironically, the chops on that one! — and that thought stuck with me. The talent on stage – from the vocalists’ unique flares to the musicians’ enchanting melodies – was just wowza.

The best part, though? How much fun the bunch had on stage. From slick winks to genuine, you got this, girl! head nods, the crowd felt the warmth.

My only critique, perhaps, was the mismatch between the show’s title and its song selection. Hits like Stevie Wonder’s Superstition and Radiohead’s Creep landed, but others like Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is a Place on Earth and Britney Spears’ Oops!... I Did It Again left me puzzled. While I especially loved the group’s take on the latter, particularly the gent on the keys, it didn’t quite scream “monster.” If there was a deeper connection or metaphor at play, I missed it.

But hey, they nailed it with P!nk’s Dear Mr. President — a subtle jab I appreciated as a Canadian. (We’re defs not the 51st state, tyvm.)

I went with my mum and ended up seated between a couple in their late twenties and another in their fifties, proof that the show drew a real mix. Whatever the title promised, we got stylish, surprising, and seriously fun – a solid 9/10.

This show is part of the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival, which is going on now till the 15th of June. Find more information and get your tickets here.