Twenty years after Finucane & Smith’s Burlesque Hour was born in the laneways of Melbourne, the divas have returned to throw an all you can eat art party at Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Taking over the magnificent Trades Hall Ballroom for the final few days of Fringe, Global Smash Club is in an unmissable late-night celebration of burlesque, dance, music, performance art, and things that leave you thinking ‘what the fuck’ (in the best possible way).
A true icon of Australian cabaret, Moira Finucane commands unparalleled attention whenever she is on stage.
Renowned for her outrageous and provocative performances, her presence is electric and lifts you up. From one of the most heartfelt and interesting acknowledgement of countries we’ve ever heard, to a wild opening number, she is undoubtably a living legend.
In a fitting tribute to this year’s Finge theme of ‘eat your art out’, Finucane performed a rendition of her iconic 2015 ‘meat pie and tomato sauce’ act (which is still burned into this writers mind), by taking a huge bowl of tomato soup and excitedly eating it / spilling it all over herself.
Let’s just say the front row was given a splash mat.
Mama Alto gave another powerhouse performance. Their soulful vocals accompanied by a live piano score and the sound of rain and thunder could have brought the audience to tears and was a beautiful moment of calm in the storm of wonderfully chaotic acts.
Joining these iconic performers was a cast of talented artists from around the world, including Maude Davey, Yumi Umiumare, Imogen Kelly, Zitao Deng, cellist Xiao Xiao, Iva Rosebud, Yorta Yorta Taungurung Wiradjuri elder and artist Glynnis Briggs, and her husband and country music star Ian Muir.
Each performer brought their own unique style and flair, creating a truly diverse and exciting experience.
In a rapid fire 2ish-hours we witnessed opera, a drag king dancing to ‘I touch myself‘, a Japanese school girl getting possessed by a Hello Kitty bag, a pageant queen with a nasty streak, a Rio showgirl leading a group singalong of a pub classic we all love and so much more.
As the audience gathered under the disco ball for one final dance, together in wild humanity (and wild nudity), it was easy to see why Finucane & Smith continue to produce some of Australia’s most exciting burlesque shows.
Over the last 20 years they have been redefining the boundaries of cabaret and burlesque, and with this new show there are no signs of slowing down.
From the outrageous to the sublime, Global Smash Club offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of burlesque, cabaret, performance art, the absurd, or simply looking for a night of unforgettable hedonistic entertainment, this show is not to be missed.
– The Plus Ones
