Delicious Aerialicious

Delicious by Aerialiscious Entertainment

Delicious by Aerialiscious Entertainment Rating

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3

Delicious is a scrumptious hybrid show mixing your favourite Burlesque and Circus acts, all themed around food and drink. The show as a whole imbues the audience with ecstatic energy, and satiates our hunger for entertainment.

It seamlessly blends comedy, acrobatics and eroticism in an extravaganza for any appetite. Our fantastic hosts, Chocolate Boxx and Clara Cupcakes bounce off each other brilliantly with quick witted remarks to introduce us to the world of ‘Delicious’ and its’ acts.

Initially we are met with Aline Chapet who performs a quirky routine with ‘Champagne’ bubbles. Her act brings the awe of a magician and the skill of a bartender to the stage, creating bubble art and playing with trapping and releasing smoke. Her act creates suspense and wonder as we wait for bubbles to pop, or not, as she skillfully crafts them. We were then rewarded with other unique acts such as Indie Berlin who performed a hilariously creative ‘Bread-lesque’ routine.

This combined the glitz and glam of burlesque with the comedic premise of feeding pigeons lots of bread; which was executed with elements of mime as well as expert choreography. Another creative act was Cello Bordello and her ‘hot-dog’ routine. This showcased a spunky burlesque number and a twist on sword swallowing except with a balloon. We were also delighted by some women’s Jelly Wrestling (Grace Law and Rachael Gibson); where you were still in the splash zone multiple rows back, causing eruptive laughter from the audience.

Our final unique act was Johnny Gash presenting a sweet ‘Candyman’ styled Drag King performance. Johnny Gash gave us the only vocal performance of the night, which was absolutely phenomenal and all but identical to Christina Augileira herself.

The circus acts included were incredible, with Andrea James Lui skillfully showcasing her amazing floorwork and Aerial Pole skills. With a quirky mad-hatter style, but incredible strength and fluidity she dazzled from the air. Elena Khaw graced us with an incredible show of contortion and flexibility, all whilst glazing herself in honey, keeping to the sweet theming.

Ambrose and Latonya brought some classic circus action with trapeze and Hula Hoop acts. Their Flow Art was smooth and polished, taking much coordination and strength. Finally, Tami Dawson presented hair suspension to close us out, which takes incredible, hair-raising skill.

With such a smorgasbord of talent, the audience was engaged and cheering from the start and this did not lull for the entire performance. The lighting and use of haze made all the performers look spectacular whether they be on the ground or in the air. The song choices were recognisable and energizing, bringing much enjoyment.

This show exudes confidence and really comes together beautifully, a perfect collection of talent, theming and taste. The cast and crew should be applauded for a delightful addition to the Melt Festival line-up.

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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MARVELous The Show

MARVELous

MARVELous Rating

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0

If you’re a Marvel fan, you’ll want to get to the National Theatre in St Kilda this week. MARVELous has hit Melbourne for one week only.

But you don’t just have to be a Marvel fan to enjoy the evening of dancing, singing, acrobatics, stunts, and a variety of hilarious parodies that draw reference to a range of pop culture songs and movies outside of the Marvel franchise.

The audience were a-buzz on opening night, and lapped up the high energy, risqué performances (there is nudity, so keep the kids at home!).

Deadpool and his interaction with the audience kept everyone engaged throughout the show. And each of the individual parody skits were captivating and entertaining to watch.

The show definitely entertained the audience; a wonderful way to escape the real world for a couple of hours and have a good laugh and enjoy the spectacle on stage. There is a great mix of both Marvel-specifc and -non-specific pop culture references along the way to cater for a wide range of tastes.

There is some serious talent in the cast, with amazing dancing, vocals, and acrobatics on show.

 

The show was let down at times with some very slow, silent set changes, which disrupted the flow of the show and could have easily been filled with something as simple as some music, or even just some more character interaction time with the audience, which was in itself a great feature of the show in general.

Several technical issues with sound, lighting, and wardrobe unfortunately drew the attention away from the performances at times too, and it seemed that seating location played a big part in the sound issues too, with those seated towards the back of the audience having the most issues with hearing the cast members at all in the first half. Along with the technical issues, a bit more tightening up of the show in terms of transitions between sets and even the movements of cast within scenes would push the show into presenting as a much more professional category of shows that it deserves to be seen as.

MARVELous the show, really is quite a unique, entertaining, high-energy, and very clever concept. Hopefully, the technical glitches were just some opening-night cobwebs (ah the joys of live theatre!) in what was otherwise an incredibly fun, and extremely funny and enjoyable night out.

Make sure to keep the kids at home for this one, as it’s adults only (well, 15 plus) with lots of partial nudity and plenty of risqué moments.

Get in quick to see MARVELous at the National Theatre in St Kilda 6th – 10th November 2024. Book your tickets now before this marvellous show ends @ https://marveloustheshow.com.au/

Photographer: Ben DIngley

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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Abadon Productions Dance of the Dead: Untameable Energy

Abadon Productions Dance of the Dead

Abadon Productions Dance of the Dead Rating

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Dance of the Dead offers boundless energy that screams they can’t be tamed. This Burlesque production focuses on ‘Eldritch Entertainment’ as is parodied throughout the performance.

We see many acts grace the stage and sometimes the audience as they use the whole space at Arcana to bring a surprising delight. Our macabre host ‘Don’ ties the evening and acts together, allowing for the theming to flow continuously. It is a performance that extracts many laughs and cheers from its willing audience.

Abadon and its Cast should be applauded for their captivating and enthusiastic performances. Many talented women show off ferocious female energy that encapsulates empowerment and seduction all in one. We also see some budding young men who steal the stage with eighties-inspired acts sure to elicit a laugh. Combining these two contrasting styles means it is jam-packed with groove and gore.

The choreography delivers many striking moments, skillfully using levels, cannons, and props for a very entertaining style. It makes fantastic use of timing and comedy, not allowing the audience to lull for even a moment. Comedy is also incorporated into the costuming for ingenious jokes that are a guaranteed laugh. The costumes offer the glitz and glam you’d expect from burlesque but with a darker take due to the Halloween theming.

 

This production should also be commended on its strong use of characterisation to drive the show. We are presented with clear, recognisable characters that play off each other wonderfully in dance numbers and speaking acts. We’re also delighted with the vocal talents of our cast as they sing a few numbers with confidence and mastery of their voices. It is quite a feat to watch someone belt a Halsey number whilst laying on their back performing a dance number.

The song choices matched well with the characters who sang or danced to them, and there was a large variety of pairings in the show. There are opportunities for audience interaction woven into the show, and our performers don’t disappoint, happily singling people out for an extra laugh. They don’t leave the audience dissatisfied, and they pick up the energy and pace post-intermission.

You will definitely be entertained if you attend Dance of the Dead, with it providing a fantastic variety in dance, characterisation, voice and seduction. If you’re looking for a more mature take on Halloween that gives you tricks and treats, then don’t miss this one. Abadon Productions gives an entertaining show full of confidence and comedy, a gleeful atmosphere that is worth the trip.

The Dance Of The Dead has only a few shows remaining today and tomorrow(November 1st and 2nd), so book your tickets as soon as possible @ https://arcanabrisbane.com/whatson/

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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Global Smash Club: A Full-Throttle Cabaret Spectacle

Finucane & Smiths Global Smash Club

Finucane & Smith’s Global Smash Club Rating

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5

Exuding colour, light, and all things sublime, Finucane & Smith’s ‘Global Smash Club’ celebrates its 20th anniversary exactly as it came into the world: with a glorious bang.

Opening night at Trades Hall saw the ETU Ballroom bursting with talent, as icons of Melbourne’s art and theatre scene took to the stage for an hour of cabaret, spectacle, and daring subversion. At the helm, Moira Finucane – Fringe legend and co-creator of the original ‘Burlesque Hour’ – isn’t one to shy away from making a mess. Her performances tore through the boundaries of convention with wild abandon and dubious liquids, stirring the pot in ways that left the crowd gasping for more (and more and more).

 

Performance art legend Maude Davey transformed the ballroom into a high-voltage dive bar with powerhouse vocals, off-the-charts energy, and a healthy side of rock and roll. Her cheeky acts blended classic burlesque with a contemporary edge, and were just so cool (seriously, Aussie-BBQ-meets-showgirl should be compulsory viewing).

Yumi Umiumare, the undisputed goddess of dark fever dreams, served up her signature whiplash concoction of surreal dance, twisted comedy, and Butoh, luring the crowd to the edge of reality with spellbinding intensity. The way her intricate costumes moved and flowed under her precise control was as hypnotic as it was impressive.

Sharing the stage with these powerful headliners was a dazzling ensemble of stars. Unforgettable performances from Mama Alto, Piera Dennerstein, Imogen Kelly, Zitao Deng, and Xiao Xiao suspended the crowd between moments of breathless awe and unbridled laughter. The evening’s magic was punctuated by a special appearance from Yorta Yorta Taungurung Wiradjuri elder and artist Glennys Briggs and country musician Ian Muir. With live music and art filling every corner, the show was an all-encompassing, neon-drenched seduction of the senses.

 

What makes ‘Global Smash Club’ truly irresistible, however, is the bold individuality of its performers. Each act overflows with personality, effortlessly balancing artistic expression and unhinged absurdity. If you’ve got a good sense of humour and don’t mind a bit of provocation, this will do you just fine. As for me, the odd fish that I am, I felt right at home in the chaos – though it still got a few dropped jaws out of me! By the end, I left no less than obsessed and hopelessly in love with the beautiful madness of it all.

‘Global Smash Club’ has everything you never knew you needed – cabaret, karaoke, the possessed demonic spirit of Hello Kitty. It’s a lucky dip of performance art that can’t be pinned down, and you either get with it or get left behind. Defying reason and transcending both genre and gender, this show asks: why be normal when you can be gloriously indecent instead? It’s cheeky, saucy, and it’ll leave you soaking wet (literally).

As a passionate farewell to this year’s Melbourne’s Fringe Festival, ‘Global Smash Club’ is more than just a show; it’s a sweaty, sexy homage to a powerful movement that refuses to simply survive – it thrives in all its naked glory. Catch it this weekend only at Trades Hall – satisfaction guaranteed.

For further information on Finucane & Smith, please check out: https://www.finucaneandsmith.com/

Photographer: Max Roux

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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