Kimberley Rossi Photo Daniel Boud

Circa, the Brisbane based contemporary circus company, is currently playing at The Sydney Opera House drama theatre with their show Wunderkammer, which means sparkler. And spark it certainly does. This is hot stuff with a sense of humour. Trapeze, rope, contortion and startling acts of acrobatics have the audience gasping their way delightedly through the show.

Director Yaron Lifschitz has shaped a Wunderful cast of seven world class circus performers (three girls, four boys rotating between the ensemble-Nathan Boyle, Jessica Connell, Daniel Crisp, Jarred Dewey, Casey Douglas, Valerie Doucet, Freyja Edney, Darcy Grant, Scott Grove, Todd Kilby, Emma McGovern, Rudi Mineur, Alice Muntz, Brittannie Portelli and Lewis West). They work in a seamless union while allowing, and pronouncing, personal/character idiosyncrasies and the piece as a whole has impressive lyrical flow. An effective lighting design by Jason Organ helps this.

What was the show about? I have no idea, I find myself thinking three quarters of the way through. But that I have’t asked this question earlier on proves that it doesn’t matter, or need a story line. The acts are so visceral and the cast so in their bodies (they just have to be with such high level acrobatics to perform) that we are captivated from beginning (a contortion trapeze act) to end (jaw dropping acts of acrobatics).  

More info and tickets here.

Polly has been performing her Hurly Burly show since 2006, sharpening its choreography and smoothing its edges ever since with runs at festivals such as Edinburgh Fringe. She began collaborating with William Baker (Kylie Minogue) in 2010 and with him has created the show as it is today.

The show is shiny, tight and fun with a crazy horse streak combined with a poppy Kylie feel alongside classic burlesque extravaganza. The girls all perform their own numbers, Polly coos and sasses her way through each number (and expertly deals with a technical hitch) and the star guest performer, Australian aerialist The Amazing Ari brings the house down.

For me, while the numbers are tight and performances strong, it isn’t until the end of the first act that I really ‘get’ Polly. She performs a number set in her bedroom with an encounter with a window cleaner who, having seen her picture in the paper, mistakingly thinks she is a stripper. Through song and gesture she explains the difference between a stripper and the classy affair of being a burlesque artiste. The number is hilarious (Polly plays both herself and the window cleaner) and we get a taste of Polly’s quirk and versatility. It has a combination of funny and sexy that is truly burlesque. While the rest of the show is bold and sparkly, this is the Polly I’d love to see more of.

And, while it’s true that plane tickets from the UK are pricey and so shows need to fit in audiences,  I personally would have appreciated this show so much more in a table and chairs cabaret set up with the according pre and post show ambiance.

Oh and the other star of the show- the costumes. Literally brilliant.

Check out Polly Rae on her own website here.

The English Gentlemen Photo Prudence Upton

La Soirée is the hottest cabaret ticket in Sydney this summer and you should book a ticket before it sells out. Basically La Clique taken out of the Spiegeltent, though with mostly the same faces and impeccably costumed team both on and off stage, the show rolls out an A list line-up of  Australian and international circus and cabaret acts.

The cast varies nightly, but at last Saturday’s late night show (10pm- highly recommended)  we had the pants  charmed off us by the wowing, acrobatic English Gents (Denis Lock and Hamish McCann, pictured), the hilarious double jointed watch-me-dislocate-my-shoulder-and-squeaze-through-this-tennis-racket Captain Frodo, sparkly Australian hooler hooper Jess Love and the utterly adorable Canadian clown Mooky. We experienced an exquisite and poetic hoop act from hip New Yorker Bret Pfister, the did-she-really-just-do- that ‘disappearing hanky’ magic/striptese act from Ursula Martinez and the lycra clad, singing, audience clambering Le Gateau Chocolat.  The show stopping, mouth watering closing act is, the bath trapeze number from Berliner David O’Mer, La Clique’s pin up boy (plastic sheets provided!)

Most of these act have been playing for years now, but that is why they are so sharp and impressively, none of them look or feel in the slighted bit tired. And despite having seen many of  these numbers before, each is as engaging as the first time. It’s this total engagement of the audience from beginning to end of the spectacle that creative director Brett Haylock masters. We are in his and his cast and crew’s expert hands in a universe that is colourful and interactive  and transcending.  We’re all tickled and seduced.

The small stage,  in the round seating  and bar (open during the show) within the Studio Theatre of the Opera house help re-create a spiegeltent-esque carnival ambiance. The acts slide smoothly along, framed by Haylock’s ring master character.  And watching the sheer joy, surprise and humour on the opposite audience members’ faces ads yet another element of entertainment.

The only thing missing is a bar to tap dance on with inspired beats at the end…. But then again, rubbing shoulders with the cast at the outdoor Opera Bar, with the best view in the world, is a not entirely unpleasant alternative.

La Soirée is now playing at the Sydney Opera House.

www.la-soiree.com and tickets www.sydneyoperahouse.com or call 02 9290 7777

 Featuring Jazmin & Monsieur P, RAPT, Inge Courtney-Haentjes and the Sydney Tap Crew  

Photo Josh Raymond

Fresh from their successful ‘Autumn Leaves’ European tour (Paris Burlesque Festival, Caveau des Legends, Electro Swing Club), Australian cabaret/burlesque duo Jazmin & Monsieur P have been performing in hometown Sydney (The Victoria Room, Field Day, Gallery Burlesque and the upcoming Ruby Revue), delighting Sydneysiders with their recent adventures and new acts.

On February 5th at the Camelot Lounge in Marrickville audiences will experience a full vaudevillian extravaganza fusing tap dance, song and acrobatic theatrics with an extended cast of musicians and dancers coming together in a Parisian style rendez-vous.

The brainchild of Paris based Australian writer/director/producer Ruby Boukabou, in collaboration with Ben Palumbo, Parisian Rendez Vous recounts a semi-autobiographic series of theatrical adventures in the French capital by threading cabaret/burlesque numbers through swinging and toe-tapping tunes. From Edith Piaf to hot club jazz to tango. It’s a format that allows the Jazmin & Monsieur P duo to collaborate with local talent in performances that are fresh, dynamic and thrilling. Stay tuned for the coming Parisian Rendez-Vous mid February in Melbourne, June in New York and October in… Paris!

“Tap dancing, Opera, burlesque… what more could you want?!” Amy Lamé (BBC/ DUCKIE)

“Our favourite Australian duo… they set the Paris Burlesque Festival on fire!” Juliette Dragon (Paris Burlesque Festival)

The Sydney Parisian Rendez Vous will charmingly incorporate a feature set by the talented and richly experienced Sydney-based trio RAPT, violinist Inge Courtney-Haentjes-and the Sydney Tap Crew.

The show will also include a debut Sydney screening of Sin City music clip featuring Jazmin & Monsieur P that was directed by Sydneysider Rachael Turk and filmed between Sydney and Paris in October 2011.

Finally, projections of Parisian graffiti art (Belleville Street) by prolific Paris street art and graffiti photographer, Julien Thonnard, will illuminate the walls of The Camelot.

The Camelot Lounge Ph: (02) 9550 3777  19 Marrickville Rd (Cnr Railway Pde) Marrickville 

Tix $25/20   630 Door/ 730 Show February 5, 2012

Bookings and venue info:  www.camelotlounge.com

www.ubranex.com.au

www.jazminbaret.com/acts/jazminandmonsieurp

Click HERE for the Facebook event and direct bookings click HERE.

Media contact: 

Fiona Brook at Zilla & Brook. Fiona@zillaandbrook.com.au 0407900840/03 9525-5082

What a weekend! Hurly Burly’s burlesque darling Polly Rae performs at the Factory and the Sydney Festival explodes across Sydney with free events such as Norman Jay playin tunes from a double decker bus in Hyde Park (from 3pm), Trocadero Dance Palace, musically directed by Dan Barnett and David Theak with dance classes at 7pm, Manu Chau in the domain (!) at 930pm and Monsieur Camembert and friends playing in the elegant NSW Art Gallery until 11pm. 

Sunday there are more events. Or you may want to do like us last week and head to Fairy beach for some sun, salt and sand.

And to wrap the weekend is Performance Carnivale at the magnificent Victoria Room in Darlinghurst where you can settle comfortably into the lush British-Raj décor to  sip sauvignon blanc, nibble calamari, shmooze and enjoy performances by international musicians and entertainers including J.Arlin (Scandinavian Original Folk Guitarist), Sie Shielding (Aerial Trapeze), Matty Shields (Acrobatic Pole), David Dodgen (mentalist/magician) and a globe trotting cabaret duo you may know,  Jazmin Baret & Monsieur P. 

See you there!

For the complete Sydney Festival program visit www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Sarah Wilkins’ New Year Leap

I just had to share this New Year sketch by my favourite illustrator, Sarah Wilkins. Sarah, who hails from New Zealand, is based in Belleville in Paris and I hope to be doing some work with her in 2012.  Can’t wait.

Ruby packs her tap shoes and heads to the Tap On Barcelona festival to take class, jam and interview Jason Janas, Maud Arnold, Jérémie Champagne, Rubén Sanchez & Roxane Butterfly. During the week she hangs out with a few hundred tap dancers from around the globe and tries to remember all the new rhythms from six hours of class each day! Between are the jam sessions, concerts, seminars, dinners and spontaneous laneway tap dances.

Flights sponsored by Glenn Wood Tap. www.glennwoodtap.com

www.taponbarcelona.com

www.rubytv.net

Corrections: For Roxane’s credi, while she grew up in France, her tap home is New York. Musicians at her jam were Eko on bass and Xumo Nunjo on guitar (not Alfonzo).