Review by: Tatum Stafford
The Briefs Factory troupe are no strangers to Perth’s FRINGE WORLD Festival, and this year, it was a delight to catch the opening of their brand-new show ‘Jealousss’ in one of the festival’s most gorgeous spiegeltents.
Fez Faanana is in fine form as the show’s host, kicking off the show with a very poignant and relatable Acknowledgement of Country, and a helpful ‘brief’ on what to expect from the show: acts that will wow audiences and make unlucky patrons outside of the tent “jealousss”.
All of the impressive acts featured thrilling stunts and Briefs’ trademark touch of humour and vulgarity. One of the earlier acts featured a clever staging and lighting effect where four performers had solo moments, including strutting on a treadmill in heels, and various circus tricks, to eventually come together in a mashup of talented performances.
Other highlights included Captain Kid’s incredible fishbowl routine; a crowd favourite with a few surprises for audience members in the first few rows. Dale Woodbridge-Brown is another hit with the audience, twice for his early-show ‘voiceovers’ that see him reading audience members’ outfit choices in a hilarious inner monologue bit, and later on for his number which featured some impressive ‘drunk mum’ choreography and even more impressive sword swallowing and another stunt that I’ll keep secret as you’ll want to see it with your own eyes.
The show’s two drag performers, Nastia and Serenity, are always a joy to watch and each perform their circus tricks with skill and plenty of flair. Rowan Thomas performed a thrilling number on a circus ring (with a special surprise at its grand finale), and Thomas Worrell also showcased brilliant athleticism in his act.
The troupe are an incredibly well-oiled machine, and it’s a joy to see them interact with one another and the audience. In their last production, ‘Dirty Laundry’, one of the highlights was a group number that was choreographed to perfection and featured the entire cast. It would have been great to have had a similar number in this new show, as it did feel a little fragmented at times, but given Perth is the first stop on their tour I’m sure any kinks that have popped up in this run will be ironed out and revised for future.
The Briefs formula is tried, tested, and always a hit with audiences. This show is no different, and offers plenty of thrilling circus acts, hilarious physical comedy, and a sprinkling of audience interaction for one lucky audience member (and raffle ticket purchaser, hint hint). There’s a good reason they keep returning and keep selling out their tents, so if you get the chance to head along, don’t miss out.
