Magic
Mirrors Spiegletent
Adelaide
Cabaret Festival. 11th June 2017
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens OAM
Claiming to
combine the traditions of circus, the extremities of physical theatre, the
artistry of drag, the bravado of burlesque, the debauchery of speakeasies and
the showmanship of cabaret, the cast of “Briefs – Close Encounter” don’t
disappoint as they power through their well-choreographed, cleverly staged,
high-camp extravaganza.
Commencing
with an eye-grabbing Ziegfeld Follies-inspired production number complete with
lightshow, mirror-balls, feather fans and an excess of sequins, the six bronzed,
bearded, buffed, and bold show boys, soon discarded their sexy white suits in
favour of briefs and G-string’s to amaze and delight with a succession of
seriously impressive acts combining physical skill interspersed with outrageous
nonsense.
Teetering on
dangerously high heels, potty-mouthed bearded lady, Fez Fa’anana, who describes
himself as an alien tranny, proved to be genial ringmaster (ring mistress ?) ,
parading a succession of extraordinary outfits
each more outrageous than its predecessor.
Robbie
Williams look-alike, Louis Biggs demonstrated his versatility manoeuvring
sexily on the high trapeze, skilfully juggling tennis balls and manipulating Rubik
cubes. Beefy Thomas Gundry Greenfield,
resembling a Michelangelo statue in motion, surprised with his “interpretive”
dancing, while cheeky Mark Winmill insured that every one of his impressive tatts
were well displayed.
Thomas
Worrell and Lachy Shelley each contributed heart-stopping feats dangling from
contraptions high above the heads of the audience, while bespectacled Harry
Clayton-Wright left his audience amused and bemused with his bizarre dream
sequence pas de deux.
Perfectly at
home in the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, this surreal, warped, mischievous
concoction from the boys in Briefs provided an entertaining and deliciously diverting walk on the wild side
for daring Adelaide Cabaret Festival aficionados.
Photo: John Tsiavis
This review first published in AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW www.artsreview.com.au
