Stepping into The Vault at Fool’s Paradise for a night of Lash Out is less like attending a show and more like being willingly inducted into a fearless, glittering cult. From the moment the house lights drop and the bass kicks up, you know you’re in the right kind of trouble. This all-female circus cabaret from the internationally acclaimed Head First Acrobats is a defiant shot of adrenaline, beauty, and wicked, wonderful naughtiness.
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The evening is ruled by the razor-tongued Memphis Mae, the Burlesque Hall of Famer who serves as our magnificent MC. Mae sets the tone early, demanding—and receiving—our unwavering attention. Her comedic segment involving her famous “cha cha bingos” (the technical term for her impressive assets) and a very, very long balloon was a masterclass in hilarious, jaw-dropping stage presence. The sight of that balloon being manipulated through impossible places, only to emerge unbroken, is a Fringe highlight that will forever live in my head, rent-free.
But Mae is merely the herald for an army of titans. Chelsea Angell takes the simple hula hoop with stunning grace and speed, spinning so many rings simultaneously she becomes a mesmerising, dizzying spectacle. The atmosphere, however, truly turns electric when the air itself becomes the stage.
Jessica Robbins took to the air for an exquisite corde lisse (rope) performance, demonstrating impossible levels of strength and elegance. What started as a single rope suddenly became an intricate, gravity-defying sequence on double chains on a different act. The transition was seamless, the strength inhuman, and the flexibility jaw-dropping.
Then came the chaotic, delightful danger of Jacqueline Furey. Not content to simply melt faces with a fire spinning performance, Furey brought an unsuspecting male audience member to the stage for a classic piece of Fringe gold. A simple act of politeness, retrieving a rose Furey had dropped, escalated rapidly into a hilarious, high-stakes cowgirl comedy whipping act. As the poor, wide-eyed volunteer held multiple roses, Furey’s whip cracked the petals off, inches from his face. The audacity, the skill, and the comedic timing were perfect.
The cast’s athleticism is a running theme; another performer (Kim Wainer) delivered a demonstration of strength, balancing high on wooden stilts for a flawless handstand routine, then transitioned to a stunningly dynamic act on the Chinese pole suspended high above the stage.
This is an R18+ show that is far more than just a tease; it is an incredible showcase of world-class, raw, female talent. Lash Out is a night of empowerment and elegance wrapped in a fierce, fiery, and deeply satisfying spectacle.
Go get lashed out before they pack up The Vault on October 12th at the Entertainment Quarter, and maybe bring a fire extinguisher for yourself, but be warned. By the end of the night, Memphis Mae didn’t just demand a standing ovation; she earned a full-blown standing eruption.
Lash Out
23 Sep – 12 Oct | 60 minutes
Fool’s Paradise – Entertainment Quarter – The Vault
122 Lang Road, Moore Park NSW 2021, Australia
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