Local performance troupe Vanguard Burlesque returned to Wonderland Festival for the fifth year and were welcomed back by an enthusiastic, albeit small audience in the Visy Theatre.
Well-known Brisbane MC and drag performer Vollie LaVont hosted the evening, delivering some well-worn but self-deprecating one-liners in between introducing Vanguard’s talented roster of celebrated performers. One by one, the showgirls (and one solitary ‘boy-lesque’ star) took to the stage in a 60-minute showcase marked by elaborate costumes, coy smiles, titillating moves and plenty of flesh.
Maple Rose (who appeared twice) received a huge welcome as did ‘Drag Disrupter’ Ruby Slippers and Las Vegas Burlesque Hall of Famer Lila Luxx who, with Citrine Velvetine, and The Sugar Duchess were guest artists.
The only male in the troupe, local queer celebrity and Queens Ball Performer of the Year, Kryptonite, also made two appearances and his over-the-top comic routines were well-received. His costumes were also imaginatively designed and worked well under the lighting.
Betty Lovecat and sultry siren Rielle La’Vish also delivered solid performances with their inventive routines and original outfits captivating the audience. Dolly Cakes was sweet (pardon the pun) and all up it was a fast-paced show that was all about having fun, showing off and basking in the limelight and audience applause.
All of the performers had clearly invested significant time and money creating their glamourous costumes. In terms of style there was a nod to the past with plenty of 1920s and 1950s inspired outfits on stage with feathers, hoops, butterfly wings, chiffon, lace, voile, and even a Wonder Woman suit forming the wardrobe. But Vanguard Burlesque isn’t all about tradition and we got a glimpse of the future with neon-lit hoops, flashing LED rope, and a glowing crown just some of the hi-tech additions to this age-old art form which dates back to the 1840s in England.
It would have been nice to see more investment in the production values with the stage as bare as the performers' backsides. There were only two props used throughout the show – one performer wheeled out a good old fashioned American hot dog stand as part of her act and another, a tinsel blower that accidentally blew its top, but even this minor mishap didn’t deter the enthusiasm of the audience or the performers.
Despite a couple of staging glitches, Vanguard Burlesque delivered a fun-filled show that was brimming with enthusiasm, lighthearted banter, and plenty of eye candy. And in case you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between a cabaret and burlesque act – a seasoned fan clarified it for me after the show. It’s quite simple really – burlesque is performed in a theatre on stage; cabaret in a nightclub – and while burlesque is generally focused more on comic parody, cabaret generally involves singer/dancers. So now you know.
