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February 2020, Gaslight at The Crescent Theatre

“Ilana Charnelle’s performance as the said Bella is superbly measured – initially she brings an air of dutifully ‘knowing her place’ then adds depth piece-by-piece until she finally springs out of her box like the proverbial Jack.” Bromsgrove Standard Read more

“[Bella is] beautifully brought to what little life she has left by Ilana Charnelle…[she] has to draw on a broad range of emotion in this piece, and the visible blossoming as trust develops with the Inspector is beautiful.” Northwest End UK Read more

“Bella, played by Ilana Charnelle with charm and tragedy, is seamless, with the pair’s taut relationship at the centre of a magnifying first half of the play, with [Charnelle] an ever-presence on stage as we witness her turbulence through self-doubt, hesitancy and submissiveness.” Birmingham Live Read more

October 2016, Ilana Charnelle: A Class Act at The Butterfly Club

“Ilana Charnelle’s A Class Act was exactly that…Ilana’s true gifts lie in both composition and in her ability to connect with the audience and to tell her stories, as if they were the audience’s own.” Weekend Notes Read more

September 2015, Sophisticated Lady: A Nightcap with Billie, Judy & Ella at The Butterfly Club and Hares & Hyenas for Melbourne Fringe

“Ilana Charnelle retains a tender twinkle as the disenfranchised and cynical Garland… This is cabaret at its most elegant.” Aussie Theatre Read more 

“[Charnelle] perfected the magical art of fusing musical performance with a theatricality that is both vulnerable and filled with fun.” Maggie Journal Read more

“[Charnelle] looks at fashion the same way she looks at songs – by looking back you can see the music and outfits that stand the test of time. They show that they’ve been created by masters of their craft and possess a quality that makes them timeless.” Cabaret Confessional Read more

February 2015, A Mad Tea Party/ A F*#king Mad Tea Party at Adelaide Fringe

“Ilana Charnelle…plays Alice, a petite young woman with a surprisingly powerful singing voice, and her haunting opening performance of The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” perfectly sets the mood for the evening.” In Daily Read more

“A psychedelic, lively show that defies genre and all expectations…Alice’s singing is great and all cast members’ dancing is incredibly precise and energetic…A Mad Tea Party is a really hypnotising experience.” Glam Adelaide Read more

June – July 2014, The Cutting Boys at La Mama Theatre

“The stand out performance however, has to go to Ilana Charnelle…who predominantly plays the character of the schoolgirl who is brought back to life in Max and Yuri’s memories and a handful of other female roles that feature in the story. Not only does [she] transport the audience back to the high school courtyard, but she also manages to switch in and out of different characters without any evidence of shifting gears. There is a specific moment of the play that will remain etched into my memory of a monologue that she constantly changes from the character of the daughter, to the character of the daughter’s mother with such skill that I still get goose bumps when I think of it.” Theatre People Read more

“Ilana’s portrayal of certain sub-characters in the play is at times gut-wrenching; her mastery of acting is evident in her ability to switch between characters in the blink of an eye.” The Australia Times Read more

July 2011, Featured on This is Vintage Now compilation

“With Ilana Charnelle, there seems to be two ladies in the same body, one a heart-meltingly sweet teenage girl, and the other an experienced woman of the world smouldering with lethal sex appeal.  How she keeps the two from getting into catfights is a mystery.” This is Vintage Now Read more

“Ilana is one of those rare few who looks to the styling of music long past and is channelling the 40s and 50s…the music industry today certainly needs the variety.” Making Melissa Read more

“Ilana Charnelle has a beautiful sound, and her song “Piece” is beautifully haunting…She’s really “got something”, and I hope that we’ll be hearing a lot more from her in time.” Imaginerdtive Read more

“You will want to hear more of her music, after listening to this track. The well-written lyrics, mesh very well with her voice. The sky is the limit for Ilana, as more and more music fans find her music. We have not heard the last from Ilana Charnelle and hope the Australian vocalist will be touring in the United States sooner, rather than later.” Nostalgia and Now Read more