FRINGE WORLD REVIEW: SILHOUETTE by Pelican Magazine
Published February 2nd 2016
Packed cheek to cheek in the West Australian Spiegeltent on a sweaty Saturday night is as far from Paris as you can get, but once the stage lights rise, and Sugar Blue Burlesque’s first kitten struts into view, you wouldn’t know much difference! This is Silhouette.
Now in their sixth sexy sequined year, Sugar Blue attempts to bring us something, well, different. We’ve all seen feathers and fans, corsets and coy smiles, but Silhouette gives us drama and darkness, sensory overloads and sinners, and it creates a delectable and lush performance.
Shadowy, deep, and rather offbeat, each performer plays with fantastical hyper-textured costumes, projections, and light to captivate and disorient the audience; such that at some points you’re unsure if you’re confused or aroused. The show is not quite as comedic or as innocent as your usual burlesque performance, but you’re going to thoroughly enjoy it. Frankly, if burlesque isn’t really you’re thing… you’re still going to enjoy it. The curious concepts behind each piece are far more intriguing than even a classic Parisian performance and the acts range from mirrored robots to femme fatales to sword-wielding, chain clad queens.
These burlesque beauties have fine pedigrees – some having travelled and performed all over the world – but all call Perth home. Crafting everything personally, the performers’ creations are impeccable – every well coiffed wig and glittering glove is on point and devilishly detailed.
On the whole, each beautiful performance is unique and immersive, but together they transport you from Perth to Paris, giving the truly sexy, ‘sensory burlesque experience’ that Fringe has never seen before. Personally, I have never been more aroused by native flora and disembodied legs – and I have a feeling you will be too.
See Pelican Magazine’s full article online.