Yummy Iconic

“It's not what you do. It's the way you do it - stripping, or writing, or talking . . . or just breathing. Do it with an air, and never admit you're scared.” - Gypsy Rose Lee

YUMMY Productions combine the best of Burlesque and Drag in their latest production YUMMY Iconic. This is the first time I have seen this troupe. From the audience reaction during the intro, they obviously have a fan following which I will now be joining!

It is an hour of nonstop entertainment with a bit of everything to whet every adult appetite - drag, lip syncing, juggling, trapeze, stripping, magic, pole dancing and enough lurex and feathers to costume the Folies Bergere and then some.

The host of the show is drag performer Valerie Hex, whose repartee keeps the audience on a high as well as performing herself. Her magic show is hysterical and, in contrast, her Acknowledgement of Country was sincere and commendable.

There is a lot squeezed into the sixty-minute show, beautifully balanced with a couple of serious moments placed among the acts. The individual acts themselves range over traditional and modern burlesque/drag, highlighting the skills of each performer.

Jarred Dewey is a dominant feature of YUMMY Iconic, with acts of choreographed aerial and flexibility, which are a stand out. I have seen many, many aerial acts, but Dewey manages to find new and astounding routines to amaze us. He is a gifted and extremely talented circus performer, whether performing headstands on a trapeze in a red wrestling leotard and impossibly high heels or contorting around a pole in the briefest sparkly G-string and six-inch stilettos while still lip-synching.

Each performer has their own style from the traditional ostrich feather fans to fire dancing and even a homage to sandwiches. Drag Queen Jandruze approaches the audience with a large blade in one hand and a maniacal look in her eye. She places two large slices of "bread" on the floor before adding a large floppy slice of prop cheese, tomato, lettuce and then, appropriately enough, one of the audience. Jandruze's final touch sees her sitting on the audience member and squeezing a sizable amount of mayonnaise into her mouth suggesting she has something far more sexual than the average sandwich in mind.

The costuming is expressive and detailed without losing the glitz content. There’s even a brief inclusion of Care Bear costumes, however these bears set new standards of behaviour. Another memorable piece of costuming is Jandruze's tiny black PVC BDSM bikini that puts ’50 Shades of Grey” to shame.

YUMMY Iconic is wonderfully campy, loaded with circus skill goodies and a perfect way to forget the troubles of the world for sixty minutes!

PS. Make sure you stay for the Whitney Houston mega mix, it’s a blast!

Barry Hill OAM