Club D’Amour Fringe Review 2022
by Lauren Halford
‘Set deep in the red-light district of Paris, Tone & Cheek presents Club D’amour, a back-alley French brothel where guests are treated to a night of fiery fun through a flirtatious fusion of dance, burlesque, circus, and live music.’
—-
What an incredibly gorgeous mix of comedy, dance, vocals, and acrobatics- all packaged up into a sexy, sultry show that had us begging for more! Tone & Cheek Production House has masterfully crafted a show bursting at the seams with talented local WA artists from every discipline, creating an immersive world of flirtatious fun.
From lust to laughter, heartbreak to kink, the ever-effervescent host Fay Rocious had us on the edge of our seats begging Le Madame for more. A natural show woman with sharp comedic timing and interactive improvisation, Fay is a force in the Perth nightlife scene, and I look forward to seeing what she does next!
I couldn’t think of a more perfect venue for this show- the Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent created an intimate and immersive vibe that translated perfectly to the performance. The lighting and props added to the atmosphere and created a world of our own inside the sold out big top. Coordinated costume design helped to convey the theme of each performance, adding to the world they had created.
Each performer moved with grace and sensuality, capturing audience attention with every twirl or gyration. The personality of each cast member came alive in their movement and style, each playing their role perfectly.
Aerial arts performed by the cast show incredible feats of athleticism and discipline, with the variety of apparatus keeping everyone guessing on how they could possibly top the last performance. The aerial hoop performance by Melina Mall and Natalie Oakes was particularly well choreographed, with each movement weaving a narrative of heartbreak and love.
A standout moment for me was Amber Scates’s rendition of Beyoncé’s ‘Crazy In Love’ from the 50 shades of grey soundtrack. Sensual, yearning, and with talent dripping from every pore, I couldn’t look away from the Voice as she absolutely killed it.
Overall the show is a delicious adult night out to spend with your friends or partner, and well worth a watch! Do be quick as their first two shows- quite rightfully- sold out. I look forward to seeing how Tone & Cheek Production House craft their next show and will be keeping my eye out for other productions that feature these performers this Fringe. As an opening show of the season, Club D’amour has set a high bar for the calibre of show one should expect to see at Perth Fringe World Festival 2022.
