When you walk into the Ukiyo in Gluttony at 10 pm, it’s like entering an underground bar from the 1920s. A saxophone player rests on the arm of a large chair dressed in suspenders, a white shirt, and black pants. On the chair sits a woman in a large black gown, the expression on her face looking far from impressed. Next to her is a dressing table, where a petite blonde in a shiny dress puts her makeup on in the mirror, while a striking woman in a red dress limbers up and stretches nearby. Lounging about in a dressing gown, a bespectacled figure lies on the floor unmoved. The leader of this band of delinquents looks to be a tall, statuesque redhead. Dressed in black silk pants and red bustier, she appears to be trying to get them prepared for something. That something is The Delinquents show at the Adelaide Fringe and it turned out to be something truly spectacular.
The Delinquents is all about the vibe, the mood, the atmosphere. Fafi D’Alour has managed to evoke the feeling of an Underground Bar in a tent in Adelaide using only a few props and some wonderful character actors/performers. Armed with a swinging saxophone player, sultry singer, amazing aerialist, beautiful burlesque dancer and diabolical dance partner, this cast created magic on a night when I wasn’t expecting to be attending this show. Every performer gets their own time to shine, with my favourite part being that the performers still stay in character in the background even when the spotlight isn’t on them. It’s a performance where the whole cast looks invested in the show and plays their part so well, that I felt like I was transported back to 1920s London.
As for the performers themselves, Emile and Eliza make an impressive duet with their sax and song. Hannah is the ultimate dance chameleon, able to perform any style when it’s called for, while Zahnee, an aerialist I’d never seen perform before, was breathtaking. Her work on the cyr wheel and corde lisse (smooth rope), wowed the audience and this reviewer in the process. Fafi and Tara make for a fantastic dance duo too, their synchronicity onstage showed how hard everyone has worked to make this show a remarkable experience. One of my favourite shows at this year's Adelaide Fringe!
FIVE STARS *****
Reviewed by Shane Berketa