The crew from Swamplesque are a busy bunch.
We saw them at Fringe earlier this year and seventeen weeks later, they are back in Perth with their sequel: Swamplesque 2.
You would think that the cast would be fatigued by now. Instead, they delivered a riotous symphony of genres in one big, green package. This isn’t just burlesque; it’s circus, concert, cabaret and comedy.
The production loosely follows the plot of Shrek 2 by way of character-focused, musical numbers and the occasional pantomiming to snippets of audio.
The soundtrack sat perfectly with this millennial, offering a mix of evergreen bangers (from Queen’s Queen Killer to Gwen Stefani’s Wind It Up) and new hits that are destined to earworm their way into your head the next day.
Did I sing along? Absolutely. In fact, I may have even danced in my seat to Raye’s Where’s My Husband? I wasn’t the only one during one particular song, which saw a gentle wave go through the stalls.
Tash York may not have killed Shrek as fairy godmother but she absolutely slayed all her numbers. I was not expecting live singing so hearing her magnificent voice dominate The Regal Theatre was a treat.
Prince Charming aka Matthew Pope reminded us why he is the king of the air. On this occasion, we watched him navigate the trapeze in frenetic rythm with The Veronicas’ Untouched. He performed the twists, turns and splits so rapidly, I couldn’t understand how he didn’t end up in knots.
But can we really talk about a parody without referencing the title character?
Trigger Happy was outstanding as Shrek. Whether he was rocking the pasties, executing a jete or simply being Shrek, there wasn’t a time I was smiling or chuckling when he was on stage.
Boylesque is a rare treat as it is. To see larger performer rock it with flair and enthusiasm? Trigger Happy’s aura was absolutely infectious, he really does live up to his namesake. If the Shrek cast ever decide to hold an afterparty, I would gatecrash it just to let loose with Trigger Happy.
There are some portions which border too close to crass for my liking. However, there weren’t enough of these moments to diminish my enjoyment of the production as a whole. Showcases are like playing roulette that way. There will be acts you absolutely adore and others, not so much.
But Swamplesque is one of the rare gems, successfully weaving their performers’ personalities and talents into one seamless show.
I’m not so accidentally in love.
You have one last chance to catch Swamplesque 2 tonight, as part of the Perth Comedy Festival!