Reviewed by:
Glam Adelaide
Review by Doug Phillips |
26 February 2024
I’ve seen plenty of circuses, and this is the best yet. Infamous is the hottest ticket in town right now, and I know it’s an early call, but it may just be the best show at The Adelaide Fringe 2024. It’s easily my favourite show that I’ve seen in the last five years, easily.
There are two different productions currently performing at the ‘Infamous’ site at Ellis Park. One for adults, and one for kids. We saw the adult performance, and it certainly was adult. The show was hot, sexy, saucy, and spectacular, starring some of the hottest people I’ve ever seen in my life.
But it was also clever, hilarious, scary, insane, and riveting. The stunts were jaw-droppingly incredible, the theatrics perfectly executed, and there wasn’t a single moment that was short of absolute entertainment. There would be imprints of my fingernails in the seat for sure.
Brought to Adelaide by John Ashton of the Ashton Circus dynasty, Infamous Is the show you take people to who think they’ve seen all there is when it comes to the circus. Ashton has done an outstanding job of attracting and developing some of the best circus and burlesque performers from around the world, and their commitment to their craft produces a performance that wows the audience and blows their minds.
Being an adult show, there was full frontal nudity, coarse language, and plenty of sexual references, but at no stage did it come across as creepy, or sleazy. Just sexy and exciting, with some hilarity thrown in. Beautiful, talented people doing extraordinary things, all the while making the impossible seem effortless, and the insane seem completely insane.
Not even the comedy relief moments gave the audience a chance to catch their breath. One minute you’re watching performers risk their lives in breathtaking glory, the next you’re holding your sides from laughing so hard. I’m not going to spoil any of the humour for you, except to say that if you’re even slightly prudish, suck it up, because their comedy is right in your face.
I suspect we’ll see Infamous as a staple of the Adelaide Fringe Festival from now on, but don’t wait till next year. As consummate professional entertainers, I’d expect that their show evolves constantly to ensure that return audiences are blown away every time. Sure, go and see Infamous next year, but go and see it this year too. Today.