Taking a trip down the rabbit hole to Wonderland is always an unusual adventure, but when Jazida Productions puts their spin on it, it turns into outright lunacy. Welcome to the High Tease High Tea. This event has been performed in Canberra for many years, but arrives for the first time in South Australia for the Adelaide Fringe in 2024. Incorporating a fun little theme with a cheeky burlesque high tea, the aim is for everybody to have fun, have a bite to eat, and enjoy plenty of laughs. With the Alice in Wonderland edition of the High Tease High Tea, the show managed to tick all those boxes, and then some!
Walking into this sold-out event at Nineteen Ten, the place was filled with music and Alice in Wonderland-themed decorations. Playing cards hung from the roof, a giant martini glass sat against a wall with a ‘drink me’ label on it, and a couple of flamingo-looking croquet clubs were placed near the pool. Before the festivities had even begun the place screamed fun - only for that screaming to be taken over by Cherry Bomb who is playing the White Rabbit. With a giant clock around her neck, she ran around yelling ‘WE’RE LATE! WE’RE LATE!’ only for the Red Queen to halt the rabbit’s shenanigans to begin the show. The MC of this event, I’d never seen Carmel Claven perform before, but this woman exuded confidence and played the Red Queen with ease. She commanded the audience's attention, as any queen should, and knew all her Alice in Wonderland trivia, which she peppered throughout the performance in between acts. And what memorable acts they were!
Starting off we were introduced to Lylah Bloom as Alice, who did a mesmerising burlesque dance, before hypnotising us all with a gorgeous fan dance. After that came the sultry Sara Martini. This is where the giant martini glass came into play and, as she danced around inside it, the crowd went wild. And if you thought that would be the craziest performance of the afternoon out came Icky as the caterpillar from the story. I have not laughed so hard at a performance from a Fringe act this year. I don’t think I can listen to Hands by Jewel with a straight face ever again. Eva Devore finished off our High Tease High Tea debaucherous afternoon with a burlesque performance that included stripping off in a bathtub. I never thought of the Mad Hatter as sexy before but damn that hatter has some serious dance moves!
Ridiculously fun and downright ludicrous, if this is how all High Tease High Teas go, I’ll be coming back for more. I haven’t even mentioned the cocktails served in teapots and the little sandwiches and cakes we received. I guess you’ll just have to check it out for yourself to find out what it’s all about. Enjoy!
FIVE STARS *****
Reviewed by Shane Berketa