 |
| Fez Fanaana |
The Famous
Spiegel Garden,
Senate Rose
Garden, Canberra until 22nd March.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
It’s
doubtful that Canberra has seen a raunchier, cheekier or more dazzlingly daring
entertainment than this current offering at the Famous Spiegel Garden. Hosted
by Fez Fanaana, a pleasant, potty-mouthed drag queen with a beard, who
confesses that his only skill is
changing outfits between acts (but who towards the end of the show flashes some
seriously impressive dance moves), “Briefs” is a delightfully subversive entertainment, a
slick, if deliberately chaotic excursion,
into the realm of male burlesque and alternative circus.
Dressed in
neat business suits, the six men who make up the cast take to the stage. With
the aid of feather fans, the suits are quickly disposed of in a cleverly choreographed
and neatly executed routine. From then on costumes come and go rather rapidly in a
succession of finely honed acrobatic routines.
Muscular Mark
Winnell brought gasps from the audience, twisting and turning precariously
above their heads in a slack rope act which won him first prize at the 2011
Las Vegas Boylesque competition. Newcomer, Ben Lewis, whose parents were in the
audience, pushed his body beyond reasonable limits in an amazing high strap
act. Heavily tattooed Natano Fanaana, who won the Melbourne Fringe Circus Oz
Award, impressed with his ability to manipulate himself gracefully suspended on silk straps. The handsomely moustachioed Johnny Domino
brought back memories of old-time strongmen, while Davy Gravy, definitely the least
muscular of the cast, demonstrated some unusual uses for a meat tray.
Be warned, “Briefs”
is not for the faint-hearted or easily offended, but the adventurous will be
rewarded with a first rate show which not only pushes the boundaries, but is
also surprisingly funny and engaging.
 |
| Mark Winnell |
