Arts

Theatre Review: Dita Von Teese: The Art of the Teese

Burlesque has well and truly had a modern-day revival and The Art of the Teese provides some of the world’s best performers all together in one show for a night the audience won’t quickly forget.

Presented by TEG DAINTY and Nice Events
Reviewed 20 February 2018

Burlesque has well and truly had a modern-day revival and The Art of the Teese provides some of the world’s best performers all together in one show for a night the audience won’t quickly forget.

Opening the show is the undisputed international Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese, and witnessing the world-renowned performer work her magic in real life is just as exciting as you would imagine it to be. Von Teese’s routines appear truly effortless, with performing having become second nature to her after 20 impressive years in the burlesque business.

Von Teese’s routines vary in nature, from sensuously splashing around in a baroque style, gilded champagne glass (covered from top to bottom with over 150,000 Swarovski crystals) and glamorously riding a pink, velvet mechanical bull, to a ballet-inspired routine “Swan Lake Striptease”. Excitingly, she is also bringing to Australia an act never-before seen outside The Crazy Horse Paris, entitled, “Lazy”, which is a charmingly glamorous nod to the indulgent lifestyles of the wealthy women of the 1940’s.

Next up is petite vixen, Ginger Valentine whose long, dark brown locks and fun demeanour conjure up a comparison with the famed pin-up, Bettie Page, almost immediately and her routine sees her utilising Von Teese’s giant, red, filigree heart.

World-wide fan favourite, Dirty Martini, tosses her nipple tassels while riding the burlesque Queen’s beloved Swarovski Crystallised Carousel Horse. This New York native is a favourite interpreter of the original burlesque performers of the 1940’s and 50’s and it’s evident why – she has killer character and killer curves that will knock the audience out.

Australia’s very own, Zelia Rose, provides a delightfully contrasting act that is more centred around dance, especially the famed 1920’s Charleston, while incorporating elements of burlesque. Her routine is a modern-day tribute to the early 1900’s American entertainer, activist and under-cover French Resistance agent, Josephine Baker, banana skirt and all.

Mixing up this eclectic supporting cast further is male burlesque performer, Jett Adore, who performs a humorously seductive routine inspired by the Spanish masked vigilante, Zorro. His act combines glistening abs with a whole lot of raunchy humour that has the audience going crazy in their seats.

The night is hosted by popular YouTube comedian and singer, Jonny McGovern, creator of the channel “Hey Qween!” and, apparently, an avid fan collector. He is fantastic at entertaining the eager, burlesque-infatuated audience between acts with his in-your-face, flamboyant humour.

The costumes are utterly envy-worthy, shining on stage like beacons of burlesque lavishness; think tight-as-tight-can-be corsets dripping with diamantes and jewels, long, snake-like feather bowers, six-inch stilettos and glittering nipple tassels as far as the eye can see.

The Art of the Teese is a one-of-a-kind burlesque show full to the brim (of the champagne glass) with world-wide talent and headlined by one of the most famous faces of burlesque in history, the sensual glamour Queen, Dita Von Teese.

Reviewed by Georgina Smerd
Twitter: @Georgie_xox

 

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