Being a huge fan of burlesque and cabaret, I was extremely keen to attend last night's performance of Saucy Pear's 'OxPHWOARd!' at the Bullingdon. However, as this was my first burlesque show, I must say I was quite apprehensive. The tagline 'sexy just got silly' threw my initial expectations of what the night's performance might include, and I soon realised that Saucy Pear are far from traditional. The duo, Ginger Tart and Jupiter Jove exude confidence and hospitality, and I felt instantly welcomed by their friendly greetings upon entering the venue. Once seated, I was ready to sit back and enjoy the vibrant disco music playing to warm up the crowd, filling me with excitement for the night ahead.
Something I particularly enjoyed about Saucy Pear's production was the diversity of the cast involved. Usually regarded as a female dominated industry, this cabaret breaks the stereotype and, instead, is packed with a variety of performers of all shapes, sizes and genders, creating a highly enjoyable atmosphere to be part of. From the more traditional, mesmerising act of dancer Irene Vespertine, to Richard Roxhart's flawlessly sexy striptease rendition of one of Hamlet's first soliloquys, you would be hard pushed to find an aspect of burlesque that isn't celebrated within this production. A personal favourite of mine had to be from neo burlesque performer Pearl Grey, who managed to seductively combine MC Hammer into a performance dressed as Queen Elizabeth I, shocking the audience as she removed her regal costume.
Following a short interval to give the crowd a moment to catch our breath and reflect on the show so far, the Saucy Pear returned to the stage for more fun and frivolity, inviting audience members up on stage to take part in various activities such as striptease and nipple tassel twirling. The participation elements made me feel included and really part of the community that night, and seemed to emphasise the point that 'sexy' comes in a range of body types, and that burlesque can be something that anyone and everyone can get involved in.The onstage dynamic between Ginger Tart and Jupiter Jove made their double act performance all the more enjoyable to watch and a real sense of hilarity was created in their Titanic parody later on in the evening, where the pair managed to successfully create an emotional journey between Rose and the boat itself. This, along with the pair's dramatic lip synch performances of various Electric Six numbers were great fun to watch and made me eager to seek out future productions of theirs.
Throughout the evening, I thought the different acts complimented each other perfectly in the order they were presented, showcasing the variety of genres that burlesque has to offer. The confident, seductive Tawny Kay's powerful striptease left us spellbound as an audience, only to be found cheering and applauding with excitement moments later as Angelique Dominique appeared on stage, popping balloons attached to her outfit whilst dressed as a unicorn. The evening drew to a close following award-winning burlesque star Rubyyy Jones' outstanding performance of an original queer burlesque song, and I found myself feeling fully 'initiated' as a newcomer to burlesque and cabaret. Saucy Pear are an act not to be missed should you see a show of theirs being advertised, and I do hope they will soon be back to Oxford again!
