Poe Burlesque Theatre. La Boheme. 13 March 2015.
Intimate lighting, cosy seating and Victorian inspired decoration set the scene. Departing the bright lights of Sydney's cabaret scene for the intimacy of Adelaide's La Boheme, Poe Burlesque Theatre presents their homage to Gothic wordsmith Edgar Allan Poe in Edgar's Girls.
Whilst inspired by the works of the poet, fans should feel disappointment at his merely occasional presence. The show title conjurers thoughts of high-brow burlesque artistry regaling the story of Poe's loves and lovers, some of whom provided the creative seed for his greatest works. Alas, it is not to be.
The piece features lovely vocal sets from Morgan Powell, Sarah de Possesse and Clementine Mills. Each possesses a gorgeous voice deserving of more stage time. Unfortunately, that's where the highlights end.
Despite the title of the work, at its close one feels no closer to understanding the "girls of Edgar". The story line is minimal and loose, barely providing a context for the characters, with a comedy routine late in the piece that is confounding as to its purpose and place.
Powell's narration is enjoyable and she presents as the strongest actor of the group. However, reading directly from a notebook throughout, she rarely meets the gaze of her audience and, as a result, fails to connect. In such an intimate venue, it is a lost opportunity.
The burlesque itself is pleasant, but not extraordinary, with the exception of Ginger Foxx. Foxx's sultry and cheeky routine with feather fans is far and away the highest quality and demonstrates both skill and finesse.
Some basic Googling suggests this production has been staged on a much larger scale and with superior production values in its home base. However, this cut down version for the Adelaide Fringe needs less flesh and more substance.
Nicole Russo
When: 11 to 13 Mar
Where: La Boheme
Bookings: Closed
