References

• Cabaret review: Briefs, Athenaeum Theatre Melbourne FROM humble beginnings in a Brisbane warehouse seven years ago, Briefs has become something of a sensation on the touring circuit. It bills itself as “boylesque” but that doesn’t do full justice to its influences. It’s sexy, campy and cheeky (in more ways than one) with the ever-popular striptease getting the spotlight in some clever ways. But Briefs is equal parts acrobatic, drag, circus and cabaret, all with an Aussie sensibility (think sparkling mankinis bearing the Australian flag and a raffle with an interactive prize). Hailing from Ipswich and with no shortage of appropriately wild outfits, Fex Faanana herds the crew. He’s your quintessential potty-mouthed drag queen, rivalled only by the more esoteric Dallas Dellaforce, and his bizarrely intriguing acts that quote old movies and put a unique spin on the tried and true burlesque balloon act. But it’s not all veteran queens here. Briefs spotlights fresh-faced performers Lachy Shelley and Louis Biggs, whose skills range from skipping ropes to Rubik’s cube mastery to yoyos. Add in their supple and muscled physiques and imagine the possibilities. Thomas Worrell offers two clean aerial routines — more abstract circus than narrative acts — that bring a technical rigour to the show. Mark “Captain Kidd” Winmill and Evil Hate Monkey are both Las Vegas burlesque champions and also have surprises in store. Bananas are an easy gag, but Monkey milks it anyway, the punter who performed some spontaneous fruity fellatio didn’t seem to mind. Stephanie Glickmandance critic Herald Sun