Burlesque meets bubblegum pop in Taste, a sparkling, rhinestone-studded tribute to the reigning pop princess herself: Sabrina Carpenter. The show, which opens the 2025 Cabaret Fringe Festival, is an ambitious homage to a pop artist known for walking the line between sweetness and bite – and Taste mirrors that balance beautifully. Staged for one night only at Nexus Arts and produced by Adelaide burlesque icons Viola Verve and Lylah Bloom, Taste is a spirited and seductive storytelling through Sabrina’s chart-toppers, viewed through the intimate lens of contemporary burlesque.
Expertly guiding the evening with effervescent energy is host Santosha Storm, who quickly proves herself more than just a compère: she’s the glue that holds the show together. Her two costume changes add a visual flair to her charismatic commentary: first, a shimmering pink-and-purple mermaid-inspired ensemble; later, a voluminous tulle skirt paired with the same sparkling crop top and gloves. She engages the crowd with ease, keeps the transitions brisk, and encourages interaction with a charisma that feels both polished and personal. She doesn’t miss a beat – and neither does the audience under her care.
Dressed in pastel babydoll dresses and moving like a dream in synchronised perfection, Viola’s troupe delivers an aesthetically pleasing set to bet u wanna from Sabrina’s fifth album Emails I Can’t Send. Featuring the talents of Allegra Noir, Mimi Marie, Roxanne Rouge, Charli Chase, Cece Cinnamon and Aspen Velour, the troupe moves in perfect harmony: like a living music video with a distinctly burlesque twist. From a coordinated glove peel to suggestive sash untying, their transitions are as smooth as the vocals they’re dancing to. Playful, cheeky and immaculately timed, the group serves serious pop princess energy and sets the bar sky-high for what was to follow.
Daisy Douceur is the kind of performer you can’t tear your eyes away from: and boy, does she know it. Performing first to Bad Time from Sabrina’s 2018 album Singular: Act I whilst draped in a shimmering black gown and gloves, Daisy glides across the stage with poise and purpose. As the track switches to Feels Like Loneliness from Sabrina’s 2016 album EVOLution, the layers drop to reveal a sheer pastel ensemble that mirrors the vulnerability of the song. Her floor work is sultry and hypnotic; she teases without haste, masterfully holding the audience in the palm of her hand. There’s something magnetic about Daisy. She doesn’t just perform; she inhabits the music, letting each phrase land through her physical storytelling.
First appearing in luxuriously silky leopard-print pyjama set, the show’s co-producer Lylah Bloom gives Sabrina’s ever-iconic hit Bed Chem the sultry treatment it deserves. She lounges, luxuriates and exudes slow-burn seduction with every strut and split. But it’s her second act that steals the show. Entering through the audience in a sheer rose robe and sky-high boots, Lylah oozes Sabrina-style sass as she transitions from the Short n’ Sweet track Good Graces to the boss-babe anthem Sue Me from Sabrina’s 2018 album Singular Act I. Sending a pair of silk fans cascading through the air with effortless ease, Lylah brings grace, power, and a touch of theatrical magic to the stage. Short n’ Sweet? More like long-lasting impact.
Serafina Fae strides onstage with clipboard in hand, sunglasses perched confidently on her nose, and the unmistakable air of someone who means business – quite literally. Dressed in a classic little black dress with matching gloves, she embodies the very essence of the track Busy Woman from the deluxe edition of Short n’ Sweet. Every glance over her shades and tick of her checklist is laced with comic timing and polished poise. But beneath the corporate chic exterior lies a pop of rebellion. As the tempo rises, she tosses the clipboard aside, peels off her gloves and unzips her dress in one slick motion, unveiling a vibrant pink ensemble with a skirt that billows and flutters in the air as she spins across the stage. A flawless jump split and seamless floor work follow, executed with such precision it almost looks effortless. Serafina doesn’t just subvert the girlboss trope – she reinvents it, one rhinestone at a time.
Apprentease SA 2024 Winner Lacey La Faye appears wrapped in a towel, surfboard in hand, and for a moment it feels like we’ve stumbled onto the set of Sabrina’s Espresso music video. With her perfectly coiffed blonde locks, bright blue eyeshadow, and a faux tattoo nodding to Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet album art, she’s the living embodiment of the pop princess herself. As the iconic notes of Espresso fill the air, she teases the audience with playful choreography and tongue-in-cheek surfboard antics: waxing it suggestively before straddling it with a wink. When the towel finally drops to reveal a shimmering blue rhinestone bodysuit, the crowd erupts, but Lacey’s only just getting started. As the song transitions from one hit to another and Taste kicks in, she peels back even more layers, each reveal more dazzling than the last. With 60s flair and star-quality stage presence, Lacey turns Carpenter’s chart-toppers into a burlesque fantasia: part homage, part reinvention, and all showstopper.
With a mischievous look in her eyes and a cheeky grin on her face, Mimi Marie serves cheek and charm in equal measure to Nonsense from Sabrina’s 2022 album emails i can’t send. Clad in a sheer white babydoll with black accents and glittering fishnets, she delivers a performance that feels effortlessly in sync with Sabrina Carpenter’s wry, seductive pop style. Mimi grabs the mic and gives us her very own “Nonsense outro”: a nod to Sabrina’s tradition of improvising a cheeky final verse at each concert on her Short n’ Sweet tour. Mimi’s version is raunchy, ridiculous and roarsome. If this is Nonsense, we want more of it!
Returning for the final group number, Lylah’s troupe closes the show with a routine that feels like a dreamy slumber party set to Read Your Mind from Sabrina’s 2022 album, emails i can’t send. Featuring Daisy Douceur, Charli Chase, Roxanne Rouge, Allegra Noir, Cece Cinnamon, Aspen Velour and Violet VaVoom, the troupe is draped in silky pastel-coloured matching pyjama sets as they huddle together on stage, whispering and lip-syncing to imagined late-night confessions. The routine unfolds into synchronised floor work and layered choreography, culminating in a confident descent into the audience. Matching rhinestone sets glimmer under discarded nighties as they tease the audience in a fabulously fun finale. From floor work to flirtation in the crowd, this was a Sabrina-themed sleepover fantasy brought to life – and it was oh so deliciously dreamy.
Short, sweet, and packed with sparkle, Taste is more than merely a tribute to Sabrina Carpenter; it’s a full-blown love letter to her ever evolving pop discography, wrapped in rhinestones and tied with a tulle bow. Every costume, every choreography choice, every cheeky glance has been perfectly curated to celebrate her essence; and yet, the performers make each act beautifully, uniquely their own. It’s the kind of concept show that makes you wonder: why isn’t there more burlesque built around contemporary pop queens? Produced by Viola Verve Productions in collaboration with Lylah Bloom Productions and premiering at this year’s Cabaret Fringe Festival, Taste is a night of fizzy, frivolous and flirtatious fun. Whether you’re a certified Sabrina stan or only just learning that Espresso isn’t just a type of coffee, Taste is a vivid reminder that pop music and burlesque have more in common than meets the eye: timing, wit, and a love of performance.
Taste – A Burlesque Tribute To Sabrina
Date: Friday 23 May | 8:30pm
Location: Nexus Arts, Lion Arts Centre, 68 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Rating: ★★★★1/2
The Adelaide Insider 