All posts tagged: FRINGE

Review: Elixir

Published by thequeerav

Elixir has traveled internationally and has now returned for Perth Fringe 2018. Presented by Melbourne based company Head First Acrobats, Elixir follows the story of three scientists on a mission to discover the elixir of life. The biggest discovery of all though, was made by the audience, in the form of talent, amidst a wildly entertaining and funny performance. Through a sea of laboratory props and costumes, the three scientists perform a range of experiments on themselves. Through every stage of experiments, their circus acts get more difficult, and the audience is pulled in to the performance even more. The three scientists are hilarious as they bicker with each other and banter with the audience. The show perfectly combined comedy with skill, and the the story line was refreshing in what was not just another circus performance. Elixir is definitely worth seeing for the avid circus lover, comedy fan or anyone just wanting to have a good night out. Elixir is playing at Perth Fringe until February 25. To buy tickets before it sells out, …

Review: Hot Brown Honey, a QPoC Perspective

Published by thequeerav

As a queer person of colour, it’s difficult to find entertainment that is representative and respectful of both my culture and my LGBTIQ+ identity. It’s difficult to find content that isn’t just made to appeal to  white, heteronormative audiences. Going in to see Hot Brown Honey at Perth Fringe, I knew from the title I would be in for something at least somewhat relatable and with a few laughs, but I never predicted feeling so at home. Presented by Briefs Factory, Hot Brown Honey, brings to light some really important social and feminist issues from an all female, all culturally diverse cast (with a touch of queerness of course). From topics such as “don’t touch my hair” to “where are you really from?”, I felt the show as a whole was so relatable. It’s difficult to explain to people the micro-aggressions that happen to people of colour and queer people on a daily basis. The cast of Hot Brown Honey summed everything up so perfectly with a side dish of sass and a hot pinch of empowerment. …

Review: Briefs Close Encounters

Published by thequeerav

The iconic boylesque boys from Briefs have graced Perth Fringe stages for a number of years, each time gaining popularity and selling out shows. It’s long been a known fact to avid Fringe goers that you’ll never find a last minute ticket to a Briefs show. This is because a Briefs show always makes for an entertaining and unforgettable night out to say the least. This year, not only have the Briefs boys returned, but they have a whole new show; Briefs: Close Encounters. The show is of course filled with a mix of comedy, drag, circus and burlesque that fans have grown to love and expect. Lead by comedy favourite Fez Faanana, the new show follows the boys through fun, fantasy and sci-fi, as they return from the future to communicate what is to come. In doing so they remind the audience to celebrate one another rather than tear each other down, creating a close encounter in the process. Following recent political events that saw arguments for and against marriage equality in the spotlight, bigotry …

Review: ‘Club Swizzle’ From the Creators of Award-Winning LA SOIRÉE

Published by thequeerav

The Creators of award-winning La Soirée present the Perth debut of their show ‘Club Swizzle’ at Fringe World 2018, and it’s deliciously saucy. Following it’s world premiere at Sydney Opera House, and ahead of it’s international tour in 2018, Club Swizzle has graced Perth’s hottest new venue, The Ice Cream Factory, with a bang! Filled with everything from outrageous cabaret to air-defying acrobatics and infectious musical revelry, there’s no doubt you’ll be in for an unforgettable night. The show is hosted by cabaret wunderkind Reuben Kaye, described as “the evil love child of Liza Minelli and Jim Carrey”, who uses their amazing voice and queer hilarity to introduce a diverse range of talent. This talent includes the acrobatic wonders of The Swizzle Boys (yes they are just as enticing they sound), live music from The Unexpected Perks, tap and jazz from Harlem born and raised Dandy Wellington, naughty burlesque from Laurie Hagen, and cabaret from the skating, singing and ukulele playing Amy G. This is the perfect show for a care-free and immersive night out …

FRINGE REVIEW: #madashell The Musical

Published by thequeerav

Fringe World Perth went out with a bang this year with Dean Misdale’s show “#madashell The Musical” gracing the stage of Four5Nine Bar on Saturday and Sunday night to sold out audiences. The show, performed by Misdale’s alter ego Feminem,  brought to life YouTube series #madashell in comedy cabaret form, and was full of real life encounters and parody songs to boot. To the sound of some familiar tunes, and in sequinned attire, Feminem takes you on a journey of epic proportions, and gives insight into what makes her #madeashell; something not to be missed. After all, hell hath no fury like an angry drag queen. From singing about curious strangers who think it’s ok to touch drag queens without permission, to the finger lickin’ goodness that is KFC, there was something in there for everyone! And, to round off the performance: a costume change, some lip-syncing (what’s a drag show without it), and an all round bitch session on what made people in the audience #madashell. Feminem had the audience laughing from start to …

FRINGE REVIEW: Gender Spanner

Published by thequeerav

Jessica McKerlie’s “Gender Spanner” made it’s WA premiere at Perth Fringe World  on Tuesday night at The Ellington Jazz Club. The show is part burlesque, part cabaret and 100% full of “labels that just don’t stick”, a reference you’ll understand on a whole new level if you see the performance for yourself. Inspired by McKerlie’s own explorations and understanding of gender fluidity, the show touches base on areas not often openly talked about or explored in performance pieces. Armed with a ukulele and many other props (potato and gravy anyone?), McKerlie presents an honest and empowering performance filled with thought provoking ideas and questions about what it means to be a man, a woman, or somewhere in between. Though I felt some acts didn’t flow from one to the next as well as they could have, there’s no denying the acts themselves were well thought out and entertaining on so many levels. McKerlie’s ability to hold the crowds attention, and to use their quick wit to stop mid performance to clarify any misunderstandings was hilarious, leaving …

FRINGE REVIEW: PANTS! (and other things)

Published by thequeerav

Nestled in the corner of The Rosemount Hotel is Four5Nine Bar, a cosy space home to many Fringe World performances this season including Lexie McGee’s debut show; “PANTS! (and other things). I had the pleasure of going to see the show on Monday night, the third of five performances gracing the Fringe World stage, surrounded by an almost sold out crowd. Launching her self-titled debut EP, the show follows the thoughts, ideas and teachings of Lexie as she navigates her way through topics such as gender diversity, gay mermen and bowl cuts, through song and, of course, interpretive dance. The show begins with musician Maisie on stage alone with a guitar, playing the sweet introduction of the show’s first song. Lexie makes her first and very sudden appearance by bursting through the stage curtain, wide eyed and dapperly dressed, glitter and the colour red obviously key features in her outfit. The song was slow to begin, though soon picked up once the interpretive dancing kicked in, leaving the audience in fits of laughter with ever …

“ZE”: Queer as Fuck! Perth Fringe World 2016: An Interview

Published by thequeerav

Michelle/Ryan, also known as Ren, is debuting hir show, “Ze”: Queer As Fuck, at Perth Fringe World 2016. Hir show is described as a “one-person, genderqueer, kinky, femmesexual, polyminded, gay-divorcee PRIDE parade through the real life of Michelle/Ryan.” Born in Washington State and raised close to the Canadian border, Ren has been performing for a long time, acting in theatres from the age of eight or nine, and studying theatre and psychology at university. Ren came out after ze moved to Vancouver in British Columbia at age 18, and considers hir identity to be reformed around Canadian values. Having lived in Australia & New Zealand for almost two years though, ze feels this part of the world is as much like home as that part. We had the chance to talk to Ren about what to expect from hir upcoming show in Perth, the importance of pronouns, how identities in the queer community have changed of the past 10 years and MUCH MORE. Take a look! The QA: Firstly, how did the idea for the …

Le Gateau Chocolat and Her Chocolate Salty Balls

Published by thequeerav

If I had to say just one thing about Fringe’s Le Gateau Chocolat: I Heart Chocolat, it would be: go see it…Next year! That’s right folks, if you’re from Perth then unfortunately you’ve missed out. Be sure to be first in line for the show if it comes back though because after this years performance I’m sure the tickets will be selling fast. Le Gateau Chocolat may have left Perth, but I’m still hearing chatter about how amazing the show was. I made the last minute decision to buy a ticket for Friday’s opening night performance, despite it also being Perth Fringe World Festival’s opening night, and therefore packed!     The line to get into De Parel Spiegeltent ran almost the length of Perth Cultural Centre’s Urban Orchard at 8:30pm for a 9pm start. The seats were soon filled, and the show began with quiete and polite introducions from the queen herself,  offering what looked like maltesers from a large glass bowl. Fast forward five minutes and she was on stage singing ‘Suck on …