BURLESQUE
THE TEA(SE) PARTY
Del Parel Speigeltent

Review: Tara Lloyd

The best way to describe The Tea(se) Party is that it's the best bachelorette party you've never been to.

Serving up sassy burlesque dancers along with more traditional high tea delights, the ladies at Sugar Blue Burlesque have created a visual and literal treat.

When we arrive at the Speigeltent, we're ushered into a booth and offered a delectable selection of food by hostesses trussed up to look like 1950s housewives, albeit with a few more tattoos, much lower necklines and much higher heels.

Macarons and cucumber sandwiches jostled for space with scones and cupcakes, and of course, a selection of tea was on offer.

But you don't usually go to a burlesque show expecting tea and biscuits, do you? After the guests had satisfied their appetite, the room quietened down as the pint-sized powerhouse MC Feisty took to the stage, resplendent in a top hat, striped corset and tutu.

After asking if everyone had enjoyed the "sugar and boobs", the MC wasted no time introducing the first act, a dancer by the name of Adora Derriere who would entertain us with a serpent snake dance.

Despite a rogue nipple pastie accidentally being flung off - words I never thought I would be writing in a review - it was a slinky, seductive act with a beautifully intricate costume to match.

The second act was the fabulously named Agatha Frisky in a feathered fan dance. After titillating the crowd with an effortless-looking performance, she sashayed around the room and even took off her glove to dab at some lucky audience member's (including this reviewer's) brows.

Rounding up the show was the adorable Clara Cupcakes, whose hoop routine absolutely brought the house - well, tent - down. Featuring some rollicking 1920s music and some insane hooping abilities, including swinging eight at one time while managing to shimmy out of her clothes, she was as adept at making the crowd laugh as she was at putting together a tantalising routine.

Leaving on MC Feisty's always useful advice to "add sparkle to your life", guests left with full bellies, sides hurting from laughing, and perhaps even an extra wiggle in their step.

The Tea(se) Party is part of Fringe World 2013.