Briefs began in 2008 as a series of late night renegade circus cabaret shows presented in the back of a book shop. (The choice of venue was because the performers were poor, not because they were being avant-garde, MC Fez Faanana is quick to point out.) Since then, it has evolved into a spectacularly colourful, glitter-soaked, multi-headed monster of a show, where mostly naked men catch hula-hoops between their arse-cheeks, tear phone books in half, dance with huge pink feathery fans, and eat protein shake powder out of the tub with a spoon.
Structured like a vaudeville show, Briefs consists of a string of circus and cabaret acts presided over by a tall Samoan transvestite who specialises in costume changes. There are hoop shows and aerial performances, a strong man and a plate spinner, a great deal of loud music, plenty of dancing, and a meat tray raffle. Any excuse at all to remove more clothing the performers embrace with gusto, so while the costumes are amazing, there often isn’t much of them. Because all the performers are men, and because most of the acts are extremely camp and almost aggressively sexy, it would easy for this show to become uncomfortable and a little bit saturating. There are moments of rest, however, which restore balance and save the show. Davy Gravy the plate spinner is gloriously, hilariously unsexy, while there is another decidedly quieter moment of pause when the human form is celebrated and the raw sex appeal of it left behind – not to give anything away with specifics.
It’s difficult to know how to react to most of this show. Many audience members regarded proceedings with jaws dropped or hands over their mouths, while the people outside in the Urban Orchard bar must have wondered at all the screaming and laughing coming from the legendary, and beautiful, Spiegeltent venue. Briefs is a raucous, fleshy show that pushes every boundary it can get its shoulder behind. It is definitely not meant for the sensitive, the prudish, the homophobic, or the underage, and it is advisable to beware of the front row if you are in any way shy. There are many aspects of this show that are so deeply wrong that they are wonderfully, wonderfully right.
Get in early – the venue looks bigger on the outside than it is on the inside, and you’re going to want a good seat.
Rating: 4 ½ stars out of 5
Messaround & Faanana Republic Presents:
Briefs
Performed by Mark Winmill, Natano Faanana, Davy Sampford, Lachy Shelley and Fez Faanana
Creative producer: Fez Faanana
The West Australian Idolize Spiegeltent
Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
29 January – 11 February
Fringe World 2013
www.fringeworld.com.au
25 January – 24 February
