Review by Tatum Stafford
There’s a pretty common understanding that ‘anything goes’ when you’re seeing a Perth Fringe show in The Pleasure Garden after 9pm – and ‘Golden Hour’ from The BAD Collective is the perfect example of this. It pays to expect the unexpected, and you’re guaranteed to be entertained by a variety of artists from a variety of different backgrounds and genres.
When I saw the show, on a Friday night, we were treated to a slew of performers across circus, drag, fire breathing, stand-up comedy, and burlesque – it was quite a mixed bag and there was truly something for everyone.
The show kicks off with a dynamic opening number by drag queen and emcee Bebe Gunn, performer Trigger Happy and drag king Darren Von Envy, who are all donning gorgeous sparkly gold suits that perfectly match the show title and make a splash on the spiegeltent stage, which this year, is decked out with two giant disco balls on either side of it.
The line-up of the show changes seemingly night to night, but these three are consistently on the line-up, and are all incredibly entertaining and fun to watch. Bebe is lightning fast on the mic, and had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. Her number, a hilarious take on Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know” was a highlight of the night.
No variety show would be entertaining without its host, and Bebe is absolutely perfect for this job. From shouting her actual mobile phone number at the audience until someone pulled out their phone to text her, to reacting to some of the show’s more athletically impressive numbers, she was so captivating and just so much fun to watch. Gorgeous costumes, too.
Darren Von Envy wowed with a stunning number to Coldplay’s “Paradise”, and Trigger Happy’s Shrek-inspired megamix burlesque number truly has to be seen to be believed. I was lucky to catch it at The Kaye Hole last week so I knew what I was in for, and it was such a delight watching the audience react to its chaotic climax.
We also caught some comedy from trans comedian Anna Piper Scott, who is always hilarious, and ZAP CIRCUS’ fire act, which was the finale of the night, was absolutely phenomenal and thrilling to see up close.
If you’re looking for a fun night at Fringe, and haven’t yet had your circus, drag, or burlesque fix from another show, this is the perfect show to cap off your night. The rotating roster of performers keeps it fresh and varied, and means you could easily go back and catch a very different show from night to night. It’s clear to see why this is a Fringe staple, and I know I’ll be adding it to my watchlist for next year’s festival. So much fun and so very Fringe!
Image Supplied