Review: CABARET FRINGE 2017: CLUB GOTHAM: VILLAINS OF VAUDEVILLE at Nexus

Reviewed by Christine Pyman, Friday 23rd June 2017.

With a sardonic twist to the lips, our master of ceremonies, the Joker, known as the Clown Prince of villains, (Hugo Fielke) took control of the audience and stage, as he welcomed and simultaneously threatened in an introduction to Club Gotham. Setting the scene for debauchery and mayhem, he kept the banter going in style with the well-known villains (and a kidnapped Boy Wonder) of the Batman show.

This burlesque event, themed around the story of the newer known villains of Gotham City fame, was well produced and boasted a wealth of talent. Some seriously good singing from Lady Cara as Two Face, and well choreographed routines from Harley Quinn (Die-Lyla Dash), the Riddler (Desert Rose}, and the Clown Prince himself were the stand out performances from the first act of this experience, with Two Faces' (Lady Cara) astounding makeup being a show stopper, even before we heard her beautiful voice.

Die-Lyla Dash, as Harley Quinn, was suitably scary, with some outbursts of simmering, seemingly uncontrollable, craziness, and bought a touch of filth to the show. Diana Divine, aka The Cat Woman, produced the cabaret and was part of the opening trio of the second act, The Birds of Prey. Later on, she performed Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend, solo, to audience delight.

Sequin and beaded embroidery clad Poison Ivy, Cyd Starling, wowed us with understated seduction and showed her professionalism as well as her cleavage. The show climaxed with the much-anticipated arrival and stage fight between Batman (Ignatius Blackthorne ) and the Joker.

Our bearded, bondage clad and twelve-inch stiletto wearing Batman was quite simply surprising and unexpectedly amazing with his boylesque moves and struts. All together, there were some great personas and interesting acts. Good sound and light management added to the overall professionalism of this Adelaide grown show. It was dedicated to the late Adam West.

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