La Potato Cabaret | Connections Nightclub | til Feb 9th | ★ ★ ★ ★

The opening night of La Potato Cabaret proved to be a playful, sensual and offbeat celebration of the female body in all of its forms.

Presented by Sugar Blue Burlesque, the show posed the existential question – ‘What is Potato’? Well, they come in a variety of colours, shapes, sizes and flavours. They are ultra-versatile and more importantly, delicious. And so are the ladies of La Potato.

The program kicked off with your hostesses for the night, Lucy Lovegun and Veruca Sour, playing off each other well and delivering a comical and tantalisingly risqué strip-tease. There was plenty of flesh on show with all of the usual tassel-twirling and innuendo that accompanies a classic burlesque performance.

One of the highlights was the routine by Ruby Slippers set to the tune of Divinyls’ I Touch Myself. Some well-placed prosthetics and horrific baby doll hands had the audience cheering and laughing along.   

A special mention must also go to the under-appreciated ‘help’ whose task it was to collect the costumes and props left on stage by the performers. Her not-so-subtle shade at the mean girl antics had the room in stitches.

But the biggest applause of the night was undeniably reserved for Miss Gail Force. Consider yourself lucky if you’re the one called up to ‘assist’ (yes, there is some minor audience participation). No spoilers for what she does with the phone book but it’s quite impressive and I am still replaying those scenes in my head.

As an overall production, La Potato is highly entertaining. Some of the banter falls a bit flat at times but you’re going to enjoy the show. Even if burlesque isn’t really your thing, you will still be amazed by the individual efforts of the ladies.

Tracey Chung

Image Credit:- John Leonard