Glorious Misfits
Set in the multipurpose Space Theatre, Glorious Misfits is visually stunning, in your face, funny and entertaining all at once!
Artistic Director Ali McGregor has gathered seven of her favourite performers from the circus, burlesque and cabaret and formed a vaudeville show that has something for everyone.
The show is all around you, among the audience and on the stage, all set under a glittering mirror ball and multi coloured lighting.
The host for the evening is the divine Miss Frisky, replete with a number of striking wigs and gowns. She works the audience, encouraging us, teasing us and treating us to her soaring singing voice that fills the theatre. Her first outfit, dripping with green sequins and huge red wig, was a hit.
Our first onstage treat is Mark ‘Captain Kidd’ Winmill, part circus, part burlesque. Twirling hula hoops while stripping is a first for me and Winmill makes it look easy. How far does he strip? Well, you will have to see the show to find out. Let’s just say that he has many tattoos and we may have seen all of them. He also climbs the vertical silks later in the show including the classic drop.
A naughty school boy appears between acts and performs amazing feats with Rubik’s Cubes, and yoyos, with or without clothes.
The lighting then reveals two flamingos who are falling in love. These are no ordinary flamingos, but the talent of Imogen Kelly, burlesque performer extraordinaire. The two flamingos become one and then Kelly herself, who gives new meaning to the classic fan dance. Gracefully she seems to float across the stage finishing in the traditional G-String and pasties.
Kelly also gives us a tribute to the 20s with a jewelled headdress and circular wired dress that becomes more a backdrop than dress, all set to the ‘Clair De Lune’ by Debussy.
Davey ‘Gravey’ Sampford, looking every inch a Blues Brother, entertains us with his juggling at a frenetic pace. Balls went everywhere on the stage, even into the audience and onto my lap. He also continues his madcap pace juggling twelve plates on long white stakes, no mean feat.
Captain Frodo, the audience favourite of the night, is a contortionist/acrobat. His banter with the audience earned him the most laughter and applause. Squeezing himself through two tennis racquets while hopping across the stage and even falling into the audience seemed super human at times and caused many gasps throughout the room. He also balances on a number of rubbish bins with a twist.
Lily Paskas Goodfellow combines burlesque and magic, all with a touch of class. Dressed in a grey business suit with a red handkerchief she proceeds to make the said handkerchief disappear and reappear from various places on her body as she strips. The end has to be seen to be believed. She also performs some amazing fire effects which I will not reveal in this review.
There were a few errors on the first night, but given the nature of the acts this is totally forgivable and did not affect the enjoyment of the night in any way.
With a nudity warning, this is not a show to take the kiddies to, but for adults this is definitely a show not to be missed!
Barry Hill
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