An Actual Variety Show
Rubix Bar
Thursday, February 16 2023
Multi-talented across so many fields, and an absolute fixture across a plethora of Perth’s scenes, Foxxxy Curves brings An Actual Variety Show to FRINGE WORLD this season, their first actual independent production.
Both the name and overarching theme for the evening, Foxxxy has seen too many pieces advertised as variety, with maybe one act outside an obviously preferred art form. Two, if especially lucky. But opening night of Actual is packed to the rafters full of so many different talents. So many. Magic to burlesque, live tarot reading to spoken word, cabaret to puppets.
Puppets spouting badly written erotica, no less. To the most cliché of soundtracks. A shirt described covering an ambitious turducken, body parts harder than unshelled macadamias, using “breasted” as a verb – crimes against the English language so heinous, SVU should start an Avenue Q spin off.
Pupperotica, not your grandfather’s Thunderbirds collection.
Tash York and Dolly Diamond, introduced as artists who use their mouths a lot, bound onto stage an intoxicating mix of feuding Hollywood A-Listers and classic British camp, belting out their own lyrics to Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love.
Trixie la Rose, almost giving half the audience heart attacks the very first act, literally popping out of their strongman outfit, before oiling themselves up as if for a body builder comp.
The entire cast, curating some of their best selections for Foxxxy’s stage. Some acts had the crowd drawn in like moths, while some didn’t quite hit the mark. Even in a sold-out season, audience energy and participation can be erratic.
Actual is a delicious and varied tasting platter, across a multitude of art forms. Shown a few minutes of drag, or sideshow, or a European fashion editor not-so-gently chiding Perth’s life choices, it opens the door to new experiences across the wider festival.
And don’t worry if one or two of the performances don’t connect personally – they will certainly be an experience, and funny story to share later. Someone else will always choose the Turkish delights, the Cherry Ripes, or the blue cheese.
Foxxxy’s very first actual show in one word? Delightful.