Dita Von Teese is a name many will have heard about, but have not experienced in her full glitz and glamour. Associated with seduction, flawlessness and opulence, the American burlesque icon graced Adelaide’s Festival Theatre overnight to close out the Adelaide Cabaret Festival’s official opening weekend – and our long weekend.
An early announced headliner, Von Teese’s debut Adelaide appearance sold out quickly and as the masses took their seats inside the theatre on Monday, decked out in suits and gorgeous dresses, it was clear that the cast were going to reciprocate the appreciation with an unforgettable show.
Our MC for the evening was the hilarious Murray Hill, who Adelaide audiences last saw in town with Club Swizzle not too long ago. Providing great comic moments in between performances, Hill had the crowd totally engaged and entertained throughout. It was established very early on that there were no rules when we were in Ms Von Teese’s abode – this evening’s space was safe to objectify both the men and women we saw crossing the stage.
The show saw a cast of burlesque performers hand picked by Von Teese take their turn in the spotlight – all the rapturous applause. We were introduced to Natasha Estrada, Ginger Valentine and Catherine D’Lish and the very sculpted Vontourage early on, before Jett Adore and Perle Noire‘s performances completed the very risque, stunning ‘set list’.
What I loved particularly about the way the show unfolded was the fact that this was very much a celebration of bodies of all sizes. This was not an expensive and outrageous strip gig; this was a meticulously planned and incredibly well-executed show that highlights the way our bodies can manipulate, slink, climb and seduce. Whether it was Von Teese herself dousing herself in the water that filled up her famous martini glass, Catherine D’Lish’s winding and manoeuvring of her spider’s web or Perle Noire’s cartwheeling across the stage, you could not take your eyes off the stage and hell, you didn’t want to.
The star of the show undoubtedly was the lady of the hour and, without uttering a word throughout, Von Teese showed the entire theatre why she is as adored as she is. Everything about her, from her porcelain skin to her jet black hair and perfected hourglass shape just shone – even up in the dress circle, she seemed to stand out more than the rest.
Memorably, Von Teese’s ‘Opium Den’ – her most lavish set up yet – was arguably the most sensual of the four Dita moments we got. As she stripped her way through the smoke and dim lighting that had set the scene, The Cure‘s “Lullaby” played in the background as Von Teese wound her way around the props.
Every Swarovski crystal was perfectly placed, the lighting hit her in all the right angles and the music framed Von Teese’s performance excellently; camp enough to remind us all of the vignettes we were watching, but then equally as sexy as to remind us that she is most definitely in control.
On the Cabaret Festival’s website, the age information for the audience said the show was 16+ and well, I would definitely be okay with taking teenage guys and girls to a show like this. A celebration of beautiful women of all shapes (not to mention the men too!), but a brilliant mix of sexy, funny and edge, Burlesque: Strip, Strip Hooray definitely will show the audience a thing or four.
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Dita Von Teese and the show continues to tour Australia through until July. Head HERE for ticketing and tour information!
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