Blanc de Blanc, June 22, 2017 ****

CABARET 

By Strut and Fret Production House 

At Aurora Spiegeltent, at Map 57, St Kilda’s Winter Garden, until July 30, 2017 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert 

Stars:**** 
 Review also published in Herald Sun Arts online on Friday June 23, 2017, and later in print. KH

 Monsieur Romeo & cast in Blanc de Blanc

If your tastes lean toward saucy innuendo, bawdy burlesque and spectacular, aerial circus artistry, then Blanc de Blanc will be just the ticket for you.

The show is a mischievous evening of salacious cabaret conceived and directed by Scott Maidment with vivacious choreography by Kevin Maher and an upbeat and energetic selection of music (Steve Toulmin).

Debonair Frenchman, Monsieur Romeo, is the Maitre d’ and slick host of this champagne-themed evening that effervesces with 1930s glamour combined with modern chic and plenty of bubbles, both in the champagne flutes and floating in the air above the audience.

Between the main acts are slickly choreographed and titillating burlesque dance routines, most of which are warmly sensual with revealing and eye-popping costumes (James Browne), but some are blatantly lewd, rude and nude.

Hampus Jansson and Milena Straczynski

Several remarkable circus routines leave the crowd gasping open-mouthed, the most heart-stoppingly impressive being an aerial straps duo by real-life couple, Hampus Jansson and Milena Straczynski, who combine strength and grace with sensuality and romance – while spinning above a spa bath.

 

Cheeky and feisty Masha Teretieva, formerly of Cirque du Soleil, performs an innovative aerial act on an old-fashioned, hotel luggage trolley, swinging and spinning on its metal frame as it flies overhead, and she later wows us with her hula-hoop routine.

 Masha Teretieva

In an inventive clown act, J’aiMime performs a quirky seduction on herself, playing both the vamp in the sequinned gown and her mysterious seducer in a trench coat and hat.

Spencer Novich, an eccentric, scrawny and charming clown, reappears frequently to disturb the equilibrium of the poseur, Romeo, and his whimsical sound effects clown routine is both clever and hilarious.

The show could run straight through without a break to avoid losing impetus after interval, but Blanc de Blanc is sassy, skilful and funny and, if you like sexy and naughty, it’s right up your street.

By Kate Herbert