Having recently won the 2015 Olivier Award for “Best Entertainment and Family” show and currently in the midst of celebrating its tenth year of touring worldwide, La Soirée has once again descended upon Brisbane for its new May 2015 run at the Queensland Performing arts Centre (QPAC). With the show advertised as delivering a “potent cocktail of cabaret, new burlesque, circus sideshow and contemporary variety“, I was eager to see just how unique La Soirée proved to be among other circus and performing arts shows on the market. Ultimately, I emerged from the enthralling and highly entertaining two hour (approximately) show content with what was on offer.
From the first opportunity I had to view the Playhouse Theatre following it being crafted to suit the needs of La Soirée, its redesign and general atmosphere immediately won me over. Rather than maintaining the Playhouse’s standard design, guests are invited onto the stage, which has been transformed into an incredibly intimate venue. This venue is so intimate in fact that depending on which seating choice you purchased, you may be only metres or centimetres away from all the action taking place on the main stage in the room’s centre (Which is itself only a few metres in circumference). Complemented by a good choice in lighting and a fantastic choice in music, I found myself pumped-up even before the show began. Plus there was an in-theatre bar…. which I don’t think too many would be complaining about.
In terms of seating, those who like a bit of luxury can opt for the “Posh Seats”, a handful of “fancy” seats which come with a table and VIP priority bar service ($99-109). Those who wish to sit really close to the stage could opt for Ringside seating ($79-89). This is the seating I had for La Soirée, and I wouldn’t have personally had it any other way, for reasons I will leave you to discover for yourself. For everyone else there are Bleachers ($65-75), which are simple stands surrounding the stage. Irrespective of seating selection, many guests would be much closer to the stage than they usually would be in a regular theatre, with almost all seating offering great views of all the action taking place.
Whether it was the side-splitting erotic readings by the “sexual gentleman” Asher Treleaven (Who has one of the most charming laughs imaginable), the sheer technical skill of Jess Love, the quirky chaos caused by Nate Cooper or pretty much anything that came out of Mario Queen of the Circus’ mouth – each performance delivered across the two 50 minute sessions provided something distinct, or at least delivered a new spin on classic tricks. Almost every act is choreographed to and complemented by a strong choice of song – from instrumental numbers to some well known classics most would know.
One particular highlight which culminated the very best of technical performance art and interaction with the audience was Captain Frodo, presenting a routine which saw him bend, contort and dislocate his way through two tennis rackets. Not only did he entertain audiences with his occasional banter and anatomical feats, but I found reactions from the crowd also served as a source of pleasure for those less squeamish. That being said, some acts were simply more memorable than others, although a high standard was maintained throughout.
While I saw both groups at the session I attended, La Soirée is NOT something I would recommend taking either your young family (Especially not those 15 years or younger at the very least) or grandparents to. While some acts do rely primarily on content that would be friendly for all-ages, there are a number of acts which involve at least some form of sexually suggestive or sexual content through actions or dialogue. There is however no straight-out nudity in any form, and the show itself proved to be tamer than I was expecting from first impressions. That being said, La Soirée IS NOT a show for those easily offended due to sexualised content.
Having been through a particularly stressful week, La Soirée in my mind was a perfect way to end things on a positive note. For two hours, guests are able to leave their stressed-out mindset at the door and invited into a genuinely entertaining session of cabaret, burlesque and circus arts. Although perfectly enjoyable by yourself, this is something I think is better enjoyed as a group of friends or family. Having come this far in ten years, I am very eager to see where this show goes in the next decade!
Ticketing
Tickets for La Soirée are still being sold by QPAC, however only tickets for Bleacher seating ($65-$75 each) is available. All ‘Posh’ and ‘Ringside’ seating has currently been sold, and will likely only be available again should additional sessions be added. Tickets can be purchased via the QPAC Box Office or their official website.
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