Review – Blues and Burlesque
Blues and Burlesque is the brain child of former Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ pianist Pete Saunders and is an extraordinary fusion of blues, comedy and burlesque, featuring Saunders on the piano and vocals, envious chav comedienne Vicious Delicious (Leah Shand) and doe-in-the-headlights burlesque beauty Scarlett Belle.
The trio not only excel in their specific fields, but exhibit finely-tuned skills in complementary areas, making for one of the finest hours of entertainment you will see at the Fringe.
The show opens with Saunders evoking the sultry sounds of New Orleans in the 30s on the piano. If you close your eyes whilst grasping a glass of whiskey, you can almost imagine that you had stepped into a scene from Boardwalk Empire. For a moment, you wish Australian smoking regulations made an exception for cabaret bars, as the clear, smoke-free air didn’t seem right. After the opening song is complete, Vicious Delicious steps on stage, takes the reigns of the show and never lets go. She is a rare comedic talent, playing the role of the sex crazed chav (English for bogan) hostess who is harbouring a deep resentment for her young sex-pot co-host Scarlette Belle. Belle, a 2013 World Burlesque Games Winner, makes Jessica Rabbit look like Doris Day. She is a master of the art of tease. Of her performance, Saunders jokes that he is glad he sitting in front of a piano. May I advise male audience members to get a seat at a table for this very reason. The rivalry between Belle and Delicious forms the narrative of the show. Whilst such a rivalry and stereotypical characters have been seen before, you have never seen it done this well.
All of the music and lyrics is written by Saunders, with some collaboration by Delicious (in particular her hilarious take on French break-up song “Ne me quitte pas“) and is both musically satisfying and lyrically lewd and witty. Many songs give the opportunity for audience interaction, so sitting in the front rows will put you in the firing line of Delicious’ ballistic wit and Belle’s steamy seductions. A heroically bearded audience member, for example, was the perfect target for Belle’s ballad about her obsession with facially hirsute men. In addition to song, the female duo exhibit exemplary tap dancing skills, while Belle’s burlesque closes the show with a bang. Many burlesque performers show too much, too soon or too often. Belle, on the other hand, keeps the audience waiting until they cannot stand it anymore. A blazing encore sent the audience onto the streets with a warm glow. Many of the remaining performances of Blues and Burlesque are sold out, so rush out and get your tickets before you miss a highlight of this year’s Fringe.
