Sometimes, it takes a special kind of audience to elevate an excellent show to an absolutely amazing one. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, you can feel the crowd's energy throughout the room, reverberating through the stage performances. On Sunday evening, that kind of special audience could be found at Nineteen Ten in Adelaide. The show fortunate enough to receive that energy boost was The Burlesque Hoe Down. This was the type of production where everything came together perfectly. The artists were all in on the gimmick. The performances were hilariously fun. And that crowd was dynamite from start to finish.
The Sheriff/MC of the Burlesque Hoe Down was none other than Lyra La Belle. If you're a newcomer to the burlesque scene, then make sure to let Lyra know. As one first-time viewer found, Lyra exudes a certain type of Southern charm towards newbies. Nineteen Ten regulars were also in the cast, and I'll never tire of watching Remi Reign, Ember Rose, and Delilah Del Amour in country-themed attire, bringing their wild and slightly unhinged antics to the stage. With cows, horses, and whips included in their acts, these country gals are animals on stage...figuratively and literally.
The biggest surprise and stroke of genius that set the crowd alight was bringing out Saint Eve as the first performer. Gyrating to Def Leppard while giving lucky audience members tequila shots (in very interesting ways) was a sight to behold. I also loved the addition of singer Minnie Andrews to the cast. This is a woman who is sweet as sugar but has a mouth as sassy as a bobcat. Her singing paired with Teaser Amour's burlesque act was one of The Burlesque Hoe Down's many highlights. The show concluded with breakout star Nikita as the closing act. I have loved watching the rise of this future artistic star. From dance to fire to burlesque, there's nothing she can't do. Sunday evening was yet another masterclass performance.
I've reviewed The Burlesque Hoe Down before (in the middle of 2024), but back then, it was a night-time show. Sunday's evening crowd brought a different feel to the performances (more cheerful than rowdy), which I think really added to the fun of the whole event. Life in the country doesn't get much better than this. Yee-Haw!
***** FIVE STARS