The Burlesque Garden

All is good in God’s garden! Well that’s what our hostess Lucinda Panties indicated in her evening sermon.

The luscious Lucinda tantalised and coaxed audience members with questions, quizzes and jokes in order to prepare us for what was to unfold, including a reminder of some of the manners required when entering her garden. Once the show proper started, a variety of screams, roars, meows and whistles were the order of the day, and with all the theological business out of the way Lady Velvet Cabaret swung into action with a delightful romp into the Garden of Eden.

When God created Adam he certainly got it right for this show! Adam, Adonis-like in appearance, enveloped the stage using choreographed combinations of capoeira, gymnastics, acrobatics, and dance. A series of nymphs then followed, presenting the themes of innocence, playfulness, love and laughter in a variety of art forms. Among them was Minnie Von Spin, who – true to her name – spun us out with dozens of her hula-hoops undulating and twirling, as well as contorting her body in all directions.

We needed cooling down after all that, and the seductive, sassy tones of jazz singer Kelsie Guard subtlety lured us into temptation. This was followed by a dancing rabbit with a spinning light show, which changed the tone yet again. Now there was fertility in the air! With fun and frolicking, however, come warnings – and Miss Panties leading us to the darker side of her garden, which was filled with poison ivy, wild roses, hot flamenco chilies and exotic birds, led by WA burlesque dancers Sugar du Joure and Monet Petite.

With audience prizes for the best-dressed, Miss Panties and her troupe of lovelies played with the audience again in the small, packed-out space. And the audience certainly appreciated the efforts of Azure Entertainment, who gathered together a variety of Perth performers for this Fringe season. The work can now be further developed to include greater connections with storyline and characters. Congratulations should be given to Fringe World 2012, who have provided this opportunity as a forum for new performers to try their ideas.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Lady Velvet Cabaret presents
The Burlesque Garden

Treasury Cabaret
Corner St Georges Tce & Barrack St, Perth
2 February–11 February, 2012
Bookings and info: www.fringeworld.com.au