If you saw the critically-acclaimed 'Blanc de Blanc' and thought the party was over, think again and put your hands together because it's time for an 'Encore'.
All the suave and sexy, high-flying fun returns in the new show 'Blanc de Blanc Encore', which features the antics of aerialist and Broadway performer Reed Kelly.
“Really what the through-line is, if 'Blanc de Blanc' the original was the beginning of the party, I think what we say at this point is that 'Blanc Encore' is about three bottles in,” Reed says.
“So we have a whole new cast of people, we have a whole lot more craziness, a lot more high-flying spectacle and incredible staging.”
'Blanc de Blanc Encore' immerses the audience in a lavish, Parisian-style cabaret extravaganza that blurs the lines between performers and the audience. Burlesque, comedy and circus come together for a party that even Gatsby would think was over-the-top.
“The narrative is that we are out to have a great time at the theatre and people can come expecting some great comedy, some really awesome dance numbers, some breathtaking aerial moments and some incredible acrobatics,” Reed says.
“You get a lot of bang for your buck and have a great time in the process. It's a fun night out; a little bit of vintage glamour with a little extra sparkle thrown in there for good measure.”
Reed has worked all over the world as an aerial artist and a Broadway performer, having also worked with Cirque Du Soleil among other productions. Yet for all the theatres he's called a workplace, few compare to the grandeur of the Sydney Opera House.
Image © Daniel Boud
“I'm not going to lie, having seen it on television and films for so many years it's so cool to come to work every day and walk through the stage door of the Sydney Opera House. It feels like such a cool and surreal experience and it really is just beyond expectation inside,” he says.
As both an accomplished aerialist and Broadway performer, Reed brings as much talent and experience to 'Blanc de Blanc Encore' working above the stage as he does working on it.
“What we say in musical theatre is that when a character can no longer express the emotion that they're feeling in words, they burst into song,” he explains.
“For me, flying is just taking that one step further; it is just a continuation of the story and the emotion in order to tell the story. So all of it honestly is what I love the most.”
'Blanc de Blanc Encore' enjoys a season at Sydney Opera House until March, and Reed says that considering how well shows have gone so far, he is confident the rest of their run is in good stead.
“The show is going great and we're so lucky to be at the Sydney Opera House,” he says.
“The audiences have been so receptive and I just kind of think we're having a blast to be honest.”
