Cabaret Fringe

Cabaret Fringe Festival Review: Club Burlesk

Club Burlesk

Club BurleskPresented by Cabaret Fringe Festival
Reviewed 08 June 2014

The intimate stage of La Bohéme hosted some of South Australia’s best burlesque performers for the sold-out Cabaret Fringe Festival version of Club Burlesk. The incomparable Giovanni (Hew Parham), hosted the evening with good humour, quick wit and a relaxed style. Mid-show, Giovanni offered the audience some sage advice, “When all else fails, shimmy”. I’ll be trying it out this week.

Opening for the ladies, Miss Burlesque South Australia 2013, Luna Eclipse, potentially left an ostrich with a chill whilst she performed her smoking hot version of the fan dance. Meticulously made up with a yellow flower in her coiffed hair, Miss Eclipse, channelling a glamorous Sally Rand, worked every fluff of the violet feathers in the two fans.

Carla Conlin in the role of chanteuse seduced us with an incredible version of Whatever Lola Wants. Presenting like a noir film star, in a figure-hugging black dress draped with fur, her allure extended well beyond her extensive vocal abilities. Later, in a black robe with feathers revealing a hint of lingerie, and sparkly shoes, she was anything but comic in her take on the Jessica Rabbit number Why Don’t You Do Right.

The sparkly and saucy Miss Curvella, aka Marley Cross showed off her sporting prowess with the help of coach Leila Pardon. Tennis and golf will never seem the same again after she revealed her risqué abilities with balls and sparkly pants. Her eye-popping talents with tassels were appreciated, but it was only the entrée to the later-in-the show main course of her piece involving a red dress, matching feathers, a jewelled bra, and considerable dexterity, best summed up by the overheard comment, “Wow!”

Lunar Eclipse ended the show on a high note with an inspired version of CeeLo Green’s F**k You! Donning a purple afro and stunning green sequinned outfit, which became scanter as the mime progressed, she worked the appreciative crowd like there was no tomorrow, dishing out drama, humour and seduction in equal measures.

If you like your heels high, your tassels swinging, and your ladies with plenty of tantalizing glamour, be tempted by the next show. You haven’t met sassy until you’ve met Club Burlesk!

Reviewed by Gordon Forester
Twitter: @GordonForester

Venue: La Bohéme
Season: season ended, but more Club Berlesk shows planned at La Bohéme
Duration: 1 ½ hours

 

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