Review - Absinthe

Absinthe

by Spiegelworld

March 21 2015 – April 26 2015, under the Spiegeltent on the Rooftop at Crown Melbourne

Chief Creative Officer – Wayne Harrison

Director of the Australian Tour – Daniel Kells

Creative Producer – Matt Hodges

Costume Designer – Angus Strathie

Choreographer – Tracie Morley

Audio Designer – Colle Bunstin

Lighting Designer – Ginger Corbett

Production Designer – Josh Zangen

Music Producer – Jamie Siege

The Green Fairy – Karla Tonkich – Australia

Chair Stacker – Oleksandr “Sascha” Volohdim – Ukraine

Banquine (Lost Souls) – Andrii Kalashynk, Bogdan Kalas

hynk, Dmytro Bilogubets, Oleksandr Orlov – Ukraine

Duo Straps – Jacob Oberman and Maika Isogawa – USA

Balloon Strip – Angie Sylvia – Sweden

Horizontal Bars (Los Dos Tacos) – Aliaksandr Yurkaveats and Andrew Sizoneko – Belarus

Duo Adagio – Ivan and Ivana Chekhov-Jones – Russia

Aerial Hoop (Cavea Aurea) Laura von Bongard and Luka Clayborn – Germany

Fire Burlesque – Angie Sylvia – Sweden

Hand Balance (Duo Creative) – Michal Nowosadko and Zbignew Sobierajski – Poland

High Wire (The Frat Pack) – Paul Lopez, Paul Resell and Oleksly Snarskyy – USA

Photo - Mark Turner

Seamlessly and expertly put together Absinthe is a wild and wonderful erotic romp made up of a variety of individual, and group routines by international Circus performers and Burlesque artists.  From Chair Stacking (Oleksandr “Sacha” Volohdim) to breath taking High Wire (Frat Pack) this show for adults, taps into the inner child’s amazement for and love of The Circus, in a very grown up way.

Not for the faint hearted it is riddled with rude and crude comedy from the tawdry duo of compares – Gazillionaire (Voki Kalfayan) and Penny Pibbets (Anais Thomassian) - who are pretty dam offensive.  These two present a number of hilarious moments that are totally ‘politically incorrect’ on so many levels.  Sometimes it can be so darn liberating to feel free to see the irony in, and laugh at, what we hold dear.  Absinthe offers that opportunity in the liminal space of a hazy fantasy world with an affecting sound track designed by Collie Bunstin.

On opening night a very good-humored Glenn Ridge got caught up in the insulting repartee and was embroiled in a scenario where he was referred to as ‘the old man’ and was in some danger of having his ‘crown jewels’ tampered with.

Photo - Mark Turner

All that aside, the very backbone of Absinthe is the exceptional production team lead by Wayne Harrison that supports and highlights the skills and work of consummate performers.  Beautifully fit artistes; gymnasts, acrobats and aerial artists work with split second synchronicity often leaving the audience agog in awestruck surprise and relief.  Moving on a number of levels Absinthe contains tender stories and displays of acute sensitivity, awareness and vulnerability, placed in sharp contrast, with the crude repartee of the brazen hosts. 

And pick a favorite – well that is pretty well impossible.  One is continually moved by the beauty, strength and capacity of the human body.  As stunning Circus this show magnifies the tension created between the young virile exquisitely trained, and in some cases bodies modified and changed through training, and the suspenseful fear of mishap created by the risks taken in enthralling an audience.  Tension and relief - delight is enhanced by the close proximity and intimacy intrinsic to the gorgeous atmospheric Spiegeltent. 

The opening night audience was wowed by this tremendously energetic and very slick ride to the point of an enthusiastic standing ovation. 

Photo - Mark Turner

Absinthe is a wonderful opportunity to imbibe in thrilling, astonishing and totally captivating entertainment.  It is truly a treat – a taste of Los Vegas in Melbourne and, as such, an opportunity for a great night out with friends as long as they are eager to ‘let their hair down’ and are not easily offended.

Great fun and a must see!

Australian Tour information – go to:  www.absintheaustralia.com

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)