Extra: Pure Burlesque, Lotta Love Productions’ FRINGE WORLD debut, is that rare beast in the group performance space where, when MC Veruca Sour told the audience at the top of the show it is all killer, no filler, they are telling the actual truth. There was not a single drop in quality, intensity, professionalism, or talent between or among any of the acts. Everyone brought their absolute best. Their extra best, if you will.
From Lucy Lovegun, bringing to the stage a taste of Little Havana’s salsa and spice, through Ronnie Rum Punch, with a bluesy routine so hot one could feel the New Orleans humidity dripping down the skin in a fully air-conditioned venue, to Chloe the Cocaine as an utter vision, their costuming fantastic and all moves sinuous, behind black feather fans scored to Bishop Briggs' River.
Sugar du Joure, channelling classic so powerfully she was emoting the sad trombone from her backing track, so strongly she should book her tickets to Las Vegas both immediately and eighty years ago, at the same time. And they’d be lucky to have her.
Flynn V, bringing his chair and sharpest leopard-print suit to the honky-tonk, and Karl Kayoss, with probably the best moustache since Freddie Mercury at Live Aid, with a routine that deserves to be as instantly iconic to boot.
To producer Lotta L’amour, with a riotous comedic performance and BYO drop sheet, while fellow collaborator Gigi Love took her solo in a completely different and totally scorching direction.
Banger after banger, star after star. Every performance is evocative. With Veruca Sour being both fabulously ridiculous and the ultimate hype machine in her transitions and introductions.
Arguably one of the strongest burlesque line-ups seen in Perth for a while, and almost certainly the best in a debut FRINGE WORLD production for even longer, Extra: Pure Burlesque is one of those rare moments on the stage where all the elements have come together perfectly. There was definitely magic in the air.
Get on it, quickly. This ticket will be one of the hottest going in town this week.