What happens when Bent Burlesque queen Imogen Kelly joins forces with Machine Gun Fellatio's Christa Hughes?
'The Fuppets'.
It's a gloriously unhinged good time, featuring potty-mouthed puppets, glitter and glamour.
“'The Fuppets' is a full-blown burlesque parody of TV shows in the seventies and eighties that combined puppets, props costumes and live actors,” Imogen Kelly says.
“It's loveable, fun and absurd. The cast are a sublime hybrid of hotness, talent, glamour, felt and filth. If you love the colour and absurdity of those shows, combined with clever striptease, this is the show for you!”
It's a mash-up of mayhem and magnificence. . . Chaos on a string, fit for the Fringe. Expect total puppet carnage in the best way possible, with a talented cast and a wild rotation of guest stars each night.
“The cast is made up of some favourite Bent Burlesque performers – Ira Luxuria's Count is one of my favourite acts, Kitty Obsidian is so powerful – to see them reinvent Mx Piggy is glorious, Ruby Slippers is going to blow our minds with her genius in bringing Oscar The Grouch to life. . . Then there is a lucky dip of guest artists.”
“We have The Swedish Chef on Roller Skates, Beaker blows themselves up, and Janis performs a sultry striptease bringing so much good for all concerned.”
“For 'The Fuppets', however, the cherry on top of the cake is 'very special guest star', Christa Hughes. Christa is rock 'n roll royalty with a huge voice and a generous serving of warm wit. It's been hilarious to rewrite 'The Rainbow Connection' and adapt it to this moment in time – Epstein files, the rise of fascism, women losing their rights, gender politics, climate change. . . There's so much to comment on – and all with that twisted humour. It's an outrageous combination – let art take them out!”
Imogen says the energy of attendees makes up a great deal of the allure of performing in Melbourne.
“I love Melbourne artists and the Melbourne burlesque scene, but it's the audience that I keep coming back for. It brings me such deep joy to present a serving of sexy wit and artistic brilliance to Melbourne Fringe. Melbourne lives for this kind of show, that's why Fringe is so awesome to attend. Melbourne Fringe audiences are so entirely up for a good time, it's such joy to be able to bring people together for a great night out.”
As for their response to 'The Fuppets', Imogen has one surprisingly pure hope.
“It's my aim to give audiences heartwarming fuel to maintain their love for humanity in all of its diversity,” she says. “Once exposed to our hour-long 'Fuppet' show, they will be equiped with the glorious weapon of laughter and joy. Only then will The Fuppets relaunch our audience members into the world ready to do combat with the current climate of unwelcome weirdness.”
'The Fuppets' plays Festival Hub: Trades Hall 1-5 October as part of Melbourne Fringe.
