For a showcase of homegrown talent, award-winning icons, and feminism at its finest, look no further than Strong Female Character: an ode to badass fictional females throughout pop culture and history that is currently playing at this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival.
Making her debut as first-time producer is Brandy Snap, whose love and adoration of female characters shines through in her role as ultimate hypewoman showering each performer with well-deserved praise before they strut their stuff on stage.
First to arrive on stage in a full body blue boiler suit and welding helmet is Diana Divine, who swings their hips and strips to Shania Twain’s Man! I Feel Like A Woman! Sweaty, tradie chic has never looked so good as Diana Divine unravels their uniform and flings pieces of clothing off stage with surprising precision (with one even managing to land directly on a lighting tower), revealing their superhero alter ego: Wonder Woman.
Slinking on stage up next is the Queen of Goth herself Evie Eerie, who portrays a drop (un)dead gorgeous Morticia Addams. Getting audiences clicking to the Addams Family theme tune, Evie Eerie stuns in a floor-length black crushed velvet gown before elegantly unzipping from behind to reveal a stunning black corset and spiderweb-lace ensemble. With her long black wig and gothic stage makeup, Evie Eerie is the embodiment of spooky yet irresistibly sexy.
Shaking things up and putting the “variety” into “cabaret variety show” is Billie Duncan, who channels their teaching day job alter ego “Miss Duncan” to teach audiences a lesson all about Strong Female Characters (or as they like to call them, “SFCs” for short). With a flipchart easel at the ready and marker in hand, Billie Duncan takes audiences on a comedy-infused educational exploration of the real-life women who inspire the art. Find out who is the strongest real-life female character of them all and prepare to be left in a fit of riotous laughter as “Miss Duncan” makes a theory lesson surprisingly fun.
Next to command the stage with her powerful presence and legendary badassery is Letitia Stitch, who portrays an enigmatic Furiosa from current box office smash hit Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Arriving on stage with a feather and bird skull staff in hand and dressed as looking like a hot dystopian fantasy, Letitia Stitch unleashes her inner animal as she pounds her staff on stage and whips it around herself with ease. However, it’s her silk fan routine that will truly take your breath away, with the red to orange ombre satin undulating like fire in her hands.
Bookish babes, this one’s for you! Hailing from Naarm Country in Melbourne is curvy redheaded queen Whiplash, who will give you just as the name suggests with her simply irresistible feather fan routine. Paying tribute to Feyre Archeron from BookTok’s hottest smutty masterpiece A Court of Thorns and Roses, Whiplash exudes sophisticated sensuality as she flutters her red feathered fans to a slow and sultry rendition of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game. Dripping in black bejewelled lace and a rhinestone encrusted corset, Whiplash channels the magic of the fae with her enchanting allure and captivating stage presence.
As soon as the spotlight hits Starling Strix, audiences are sent into fits of laughter with the scene of a sexified Miss Piggy: complete with pigs nose, piggy ears and signature pearls. Whilst elegantly wrapped in a marabou robe, a sombre voicemail left by Kermit the Frog plays in the background before Starling Strix violently hangs up the phone and strips off a golden crushed velvet number to reveal a sexy black two-piece set. Miss Piggy has officially gone rogue as Starling Strix then hits the stripper pole to perform a touching, emotional routine to the iconic meme-ified rendition of Cellophane by FKA twigs. Prepare to have the tender notes of Didn’t I Do It For You in Miss Piggy’s signature voice stuck in your head for days, as Starling Strix puts on a childhood-making (or ruining) show.
Taking us back in time to ancient Greece is “the sweet little fox with fiery locks” Frankie Fox, who enthralls audiences with her devilishly divine portrayal of Aphrodite: the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Crowned with a striking golden headdress and draped in a sheer white robe, Frankie Fox is truly ethereal on stage, resembling a Sandro Botticelli painting with her ginger hair, fair skin and deceivingly innocent gaze.
For the grand finale to beat all grand finales, prepare to be left shocked, flabbergasted and weirdly turned on by Saskia’s sexy Xenomorph. Yes, you heard that right – Adelaide’s very own professional nerd performs a sexified burlesque number dressed as the extraterrestrial creature queen from the cult classic 80s movie franchise Alien. Wearing a scarily accurate Alien headpiece, shiny latex tail and tentacles, Saskia miraculously makes Alien look sexy: a feat no one could have ever anticipated yet works surprisingly well. Performing to songs ranging from 50 Cent’s In da Club to Katy’s Perry’s E.T, it’s their prowess along stage to the lyrics of “watch out boy, she’ll chew you up” from Daryl Hall & John Oates’ Maneater that is truly iconic and leaves audiences cry-laughing and slow clapping.
Eccentric, high-energy and uniquely creative, Strong Female Character pays homage to a diverse variety of strong, powerful and throughout fiction and history. Featuring a diverse and multi-talented cast, this powerhouse production shatters stereotypes, unpacks tropes and challenges gender norms with the power of badass burlesque, comedy and cabaret. Kudos to first-time producer Brandy Snap for rallying together an all-star cast and putting on such a powerful first production: we can’t wait to see what else lies ahead for her! Strong Female Character is currently playing at Prompt Creative Centre from Friday 31 May – Saturday 1 June at 9pm for Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival.
Dates: Friday 31 May – Saturday 1 June | 9pm
Location: Prompt Creative Centre, Shop 8/205 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000
Tickets: General Admission: $35
Rating: ★★★★1.2
The Adelaide Insider 