From high octane pop and rock to soulful melodies and operatic arias, this is a rampant, raucous, defiant, unabashed and provocative celebration of cabaret. These divas and deviants know how to party and ensure all of us are along for a particularly wild ride. They’ve been upending the art form for 20 years, doing things their way and, given what I saw last night, that joie de vivre shows no signs of abating.
What they produce is outrageous and irrepressible as they cavort, pout and prowl on and around a small circular stage. The audience is out for a good time. That is evident from the warmup. And a mighty good time they get. The performers, led from the front by agent provocateur Moria Finucane, don’t hold back. Long flowing gowns, feathers, frippery and bling. Piece by piece, layer by layer, with more than the odd party trick, they are dispensed with and the human form, bumps and all, cascades.
Liquids flow. It gets messy – very messy – all in good fun, of course, because that is the name of the game. Much of it is accompanied by broad smiles, cheeky grins and a whole lot of attitude. Amped up and lit up, with a large, silver disco ball perched on high, Global Smash Club is about life and love, joy and justice. Accompanying Finucane in this showcase of the bold and the bodacious are Maude Davey, Yumi Umiumare, Mamo Alto, Imogen Kelly, Piera Dennerstein, Zitao Deng, Xiao Xiao, Iva Rosebud et al.
Risqué and ribald, this adults only show is a brazen burlesque carnival, which pushes the boundaries and revels in doing so. The question is are you ready to be tantalised? Hell, yeah! One hour 15 minutes, Finucane & Smith’s Global Smash Club is on at Trades Hall until 19th October, 2024 as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. For bookings, go to https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/finucane-smiths-global-smash-club/
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett (Queen Victoria Market) – theatre review
- Cabaret Night Fever (The Butterfly Club) – theatre review
- Cab Suave (Sparkle Society) – theatre review
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
