Aurora Galore: Glamorous Weirdo | Da Parel Speigeltent | Feb 18-20 | ★ ★ ★ ★
More, more, Aurora Galore! In her new show Glamorous Weirdo, the award-winning UK burlesque star bares more than just flesh and tattoos. Along with the tits, winks and neon-pink fronds are routines inspired by personal struggle and life on the outer edges of society.
But first let’s talk about those fronds! Galore kick-started the evening with a high octane, fairy floss strip tease. Caked in pink feathers and backed by a giddily energetic pop track, the pint-sized performer conveyed all the fierceness of a six-foot-seven queen, complete with full frontal makeup. She then slapped on a Charleston remix to create a nice compare between old-school and modern forms of burlesque.
After that, things took a turn for the dark and personal, though the energy level never dipped below explosive. A rendition of Sweet Nothing by Florence and the Machine was followed by a blurry and at times bloody art film, and dance that incorporated neon green lasers and fire breathing.
The way Galore alternately overlaid herself with light, or ran fire up her arms, or used her dark hair to obscure her body so it disappeared against the black curtains, worked to craft an intriguingly textured – at times disturbing – burlesque. And if you’re not one for heightened emotion and drama (there’s a lot of it in this show), the antics of juggler extraordinaire David Eriksson will win you over. His tricky, albeit non-sexual, ping pong malarkey punctuated the show and added a circus-y flavour to the night.
Glamorous Weirdo is avant-garde burlesque executed by one of the most passionate performers you’ll come across. There’s enough lightness and humour to balance out the heavier stuff – and if don’t like it, I guarantee you Aurora Galore don’t give a fuh.
Carmen Reilly
