Reviewer: Dale Anninos-Carter
What: The Lipsinker
Where: Little Theatre, RCC Fringe
Presented by: RCC Fringe
Duration: 60 minutes
A fabulous shambles is the only way to describe this show.
Five drag queens (extremely dramatically) lip sync to twelve well-known and not so well-known songs, performing a sensory overload. A small lecture theatre at the University of Adelaide is quickly transformed into a vibrant, glittery mess, all topped off with a disco ball.
When I say ‘mess’, I 100% mean it. I’m still surprised no one stacked it on stage. During every song, multiple outfit changes occured, generally by the means of stripping. There’s wigs and heels scattered, nipple tassels, and countless props from ping pong balls to torches. If you’re lucky you’ll also receive a free mid-show snack of packet chips. You’ll also witness a tennis racket being throw across the floor, but instead of the racket part, it’s George Pell’s face.
I think the highlight of the performance for the crowd was when all the lights went out, Bohemian Rhapsody started playing, and the only source of light in the room were flashlights being shone by each performer into their own face in sync with the lyrics by the timeless Queen tune. In combination with the dramatic facial expressions, intense coloured wigs, and great use of sneaking around in the dark, it made for comedy gold.
As for the lip syncing itself, it was pretty darn good, and of course done in an especially dramatic manner. There was so much happening on stage that my eyes were trying to keep up with the bizarre circumstances and follow the prop line (forget plot line), that the actual lip syncing was almost secondary.
Not going to lie, the whole experience was weird, but I’m pretty sure that’s what they were going for. Think; cabaret, stripping, garbage bags, jeggings, dinosaur and nun costumes, swimsuits and…you get the idea. The show was extremely high energy, and I’d love to know what kind of makeup they used – not on running eyeliner was seen that day.
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