Blanc de Blanc Encore
It appears that no Brisbane Festival is complete without a Strut & Fret Spiegeltent show—so, following the Brisbane opening of Blanc de Blanc Encore, we know that the 2022 Festival is just around the corner. Time to book your tickets to your first BrisFest show…
If you’ve seen previous Strut & Fret shows then you will know what to expect from Blanc de Blanc Encore: stylish burlesque blended with high-paced song, dance, comedy, and a sprinkling of circus feats. If you are new to these events, anticipate an adults-only risqué entertainment with a 1920s-speakeasy vibe—that is sometimes funny, and with the occasional wow factor. I say 1920s vibe but actually such shows have a far longer heritage, dating back to the 1850s. In the tradition of vaudeville and the Victorian music halls, this is variety-style song and dance entertainment—where a changing cast of artists have spotlight moments to demonstrate often astounding skills, and audiences are encouraged to enjoy risqué humour and burlesque.
Blanc de Blanc Encore delivers a high-paced 100+ minutes of variety-style entertainment, ranging from song, dance and European-style clowning, through to foot-juggling, Chinese pole and aerials. Be ready for a quick and entertaining ride.
Image credit including cover: Prudence Upton
The 2022 Brisbane cast features eight talented performers. Emile’s circus and MC-ing is ‘fantastique’—including entertaining grape-catching, and a body orchestral number (a beat-boxing penis rendition of ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’) that had many audience members in fits of giggles. Joe DeSoto acts as co-host, with high-speed (and highly-flexible) comic solos that include a speed lip-synch medley.
The show has a number of big song and dance numbers—including the first-half multi-gendered Moulin Rouge-style ‘can-can’, which the team describe as their iconic French Maids act (definitely one to look out for!), and the risqué and funny ‘towel dance’ (an entertaining way to open the second half). Rechelle has a fabulous voice and stage presence, with several great numbers. Skylar Benton has a compelling stage presence and costumes, and a fantastic solo ‘smoking’ dance. Melanie Hawkins works hard throughout the show, including demonstrating what I can only characterise as an ‘unusual response’ to classical music (replete with enthusiastic audience participation at one point).
Personal highlights were the circus segments—particularly the Chinese pole, corde lisse (rope) work and ‘duohoop.’ Spencer Craig has been a member of the Blanc de Blanc cast since 2019, and brings high-energy pizazz to the whole show, including a starring role in the French Maids act. Emma’s paper parasol foot-juggling and balance is dextrous, fast-paced, and entertaining, and Caitlin Tomson-Moylan’s aerial work is elegant, skilful and stylish. Charles-Éric is a simply superb ‘Dancer in the Moonlight,’ when flying high on corde lisse (rope) and demonstrating powerful Chinese pole skills. Absolute highlights of the show were the second-half bending pole—over and above the audience (what a way to pour champagne)—and Spencer and Caitlin’s quite amazing ‘Love Hangover’ duohoop. Powerful, controlled, passionate, intense, creative, and breathtaking, the duohoop finale alone is worth the price of admission. No wonder that the only way to follow that performance was with the curtain call for all of the performers.
Strut & Fret’s Scott Maidment (Director/show conception) has another winner on their hands, and congratulations also to fellow creatives (Kevin Maher [Choreography], Philip Gladwell [Lighting & Set Design], Steve Toulmin [Musical Composition], James Browne [Costume Design], Spencer Novich [Comedy Consultant] and Laura New [Additional Material]).
