Review: Sinsuality: HoeDown at The Rechabite

Sinsuality: HoeDown at The Rechabite
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Fresh from their 2023 sell-out season of Sinsuality: Heaven and Hell, the creative genius behind one of Fringe World’s staple shows returns with the all-new Sinsuality: Hoedown.

Impressively busy for a Tuesday afternoon in Perth, crowds at The Rechabite took seats in The Rechabite Hall and around its balconies, and settled in for an hour of rootin’ tootin’ tomfoolery from some of Perth’s premier performers.

Greeting crowds after the show’s high-energy opening number, Perth drag legend Barbie Q welcomed crowds in a spectacular pink gingham costume, the likes of which Dolly Parton would undoubtedly kill for. Her hilariously unapologetic vulgarity and endearingly brazen MC style immediately set the tone for the show and maintained a high level of energy throughout. Barbie Q’s gift for comedy that simultaneously disarms and scandalises its audiences is profoundly entertaining and a testament to her recent 25th anniversary in the industry.

For those unaware of the show’s premise, performers deliver acts inspired by the seven deadly sins. Often specific to an annual theme, this year’s show put the wild ‘West’ in Western Australia with its cowboy, rodeo theme. Despite following eight previous iterations of the Sinsuality format, this year’s serving of outrageous burlesque, circus, aerials, contortion, comedy, drag and pole remained impressively fresh.

Kinetica’s co-director Sarah opened the show with a homage to the wild western criminal as ‘Greed’, locking herself in chains with a chain-based aerial act. Being assured by Karl Kayoss that it does in fact ‘hurt as much as it looks’, Sarah’s ability to gracefully execute the routine, often while hanging from her neck or hips, was exceptional—and exceptionally painful to watch.

Perth’s Boylesque King and Miss Pole Dance WA, Ruby, embodied ‘Envy’ in a Dolly Parton aerial straps duo. After last year’s duet saw the pair undertake a jaw-dropping pole act, the announcement of a dual aerial routine was the source of much excitement. Balancing the entertaining clowning and comedy of other routines in the show, this profoundly emotional duet was captivating, particularly for the performative intimacy and synchronicity between the artists. Barbie Q’s role as the desperate Parton to Ruby’s eponymous Jolene was a heartbreaking addition that grounded the routine in palpable emotion, which was already heightened by the beautiful choreography and execution. Among the hour of phenomenal performances, this routine was the indisputable highlight.

Lightening the mood, burlesque superstar Sugar Du Joure took the stage by storm in a clown-lesque performance as ‘Wrath’ that perfectly embodied the Fringe ethos: hilarious, quirky, and utterly unlike anything the crowd was expecting. The high-octane ridiculousness of Du Joure’s concept and performance, with an unhinged contribution from Matthew Pope, was a joy that defies description and demands to be witnessed in person.

Kinetica’s second esteemed co-director, Bec, took to the stage as ‘Gluttony’, in a charming lemonade-stand, vintage-style lyra routine. The combination of classic lyra choreography with a show-stopping neo-mess-act finale was thoroughly entertaining, with several great salacious moments.

A drunken competition of gymnastic one-upmanship, lifted straight from the sticky floors of a classic western saloon, amused the crowds before Barbie Q re-entered to perform as ‘Pride’. Flipping the prompt into ‘pride’ as a form of celebration for her love with their husband, Kayoss, Barbie Q’s performance of You’re Still The One created a resonant and impactful moment of stillness. Inspiring a sing-along from the crowd, the performance brought a sense of sincerity and vulnerability to the evening that was highly meaningful.

Pole legend Ruby returned as ‘Sloth’ to perform a death-defying solo pole routine. Impressive pole skills aside, just watching Ruby so confidently tackle The Rechabite stairs in intimidatingly large red boots was enough to establish her prowess as an elite performer. Finally, in closing off the show, Kayoss and Pope returned for a cowboy-themed gymnastic-burlesque duet as ‘Lust’. Upbeat, funny and undeniably sexy, the act was the perfect final number for the show.

Sinsuality: HoeDown has confirmed itself as another successful feather in the team’s Sinsuality (rodeo-style) hat. This show is a celebration of the unique and highly impressive performers that Western Australia has to offer, and it should be at the top of everyone’s Fringe list. Every performer stands firmly at the top of their game, creating spectacles that demand to be witnessed.

BEC WELDON