⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half
The titans of tease are back this Fringe. Sugar Blue Burlesque’s Teaser is here with a star studded line up to make any Perth Burlesque fan’s heart race.
The evening was hosted by Burlesque Barbie, Cece Desist, who was glorious in her glittery, almost flouro pink gown. She was a helpful guide to Burlesque for the newbies and those of us who needed a little refresher.
In previous posts, I touched on the comedic roots of Burlesque. However, Burlesque is also very much about the tease. The tantalisingly slow ungloving of hands, the peekaboo games with props and even the cheekiest come-hither winks.
If you don’t get the picture, the show does a good job of illustrating the principles of tease. We had feather fans and a powder puff, impish antics, moments of mischief and fancy footwork to entertain and prolong the slow burn.
Teaser didn’t just present a variety of acts. The audience was also treated to a diversity of body types and ethnicities as well. The resounding approval of the audience was a great reminder of how inclusive the Burlesque scene is. It is so special that artists are able to put themselves out there and be celebrated. Especially precious even, given the current political climate.
My favourite act of the night was Lolly Moon. Her musicality was on point as she slinked across the stage backed by Tinsley Ellis’ Kiss of Death. As his gritty, soulful voice filled the room, Lolly Moon intoxicated us with her unveiling as well as her sharp floor work. Every so often, she would stop and check on our pulses with a devilish glint in her eye. That was the frosting on the routine for me.
I also need to shout out the fabulous Fifi Fontaine, whose balloon popping act took on another dimension when she revealed the one “balloon” that she didn’t want to pop on stage. I could barely waddle when I was heavily pregnant, I cannot fathom how Miss Fontaine managed to prance around. And in heels, no less!
While every act garnered appreciative cat calls from the audience, there were a couple that I felt only just cleared the bar. While there were a couple of technical elements I felt could be improved (eg: timing and pacing), this opinion could also be a reflection of some of my burly preferences.
That aside, Teaser was sensational. The ladies clearly put so much time and effort into being at the top of their game and were rewarded handsomely with decibel-busting applause and wolf-whistles.
Teaser is a definite crowd pleaser. It reinstates my belief that you honestly can’t go wrong with a Sugar Blue show for Fringe.