There is something about the Cirque Songstress (Christine Ibrahim) that just draws you into her aura. No, I’m not talking about her ‘unhidden talents’, it’s more her magnetic personality, unapologetic nature, and amazing singing voice that really makes you sit up and pay attention. In Wonderfully Terrible Things you get to see them all (including those unhidden talents) and, with a stunning cast of cirque miscreants, they put the TERIBBLY WONDERFUL into Wonderfully Terrible Things.

I do love it when the cast is out as people are walking into a show. It shows off their characters and gives a little sneak preview as to what is about to happen. And while I didn’t expect Saint Eve to be walked like a dog, it brought some big laughs and set the tone for a wonderful night ahead. This is a show written and created by the Cirque Songstress and allows her to shine. Telling stories of her childhood, singing deliciously twisted songs and interacting with the crowd, Christine makes the audience feel relaxed and welcomed. If you’re looking for a safe space to be yourself at the Adelaide Fringe, this is the place for you. Breaking up Christine’s stories and songs are some seriously stupendous sideshow characters. The aforementioned Saint Eve pulls off an amazing boylesque and fire performance set to The Avalanches, Matthew Pope astonishes on the trapeze, while Natalya Alessi screams stage presence as soon as the smoke clears. This is a ‘dangerous woman’ either with whip in hand or her skirt, as this reviewer found out when I got hit smack, dab in the face with it as she performed her brand of sultry burlesque.

And with some eye-opening artists in this cast, their performances wouldn’t have had the same effect on me without the tech folks creating the gorgeous ambience. Wonderfully Terrible Things has some of the most visually pleasing lighting of any Fringe show I’ve seen, as each character had their own unique coloured lighting colour, music and smoke. For that alone, this show gets extra marks. There is nothing terrible about it, you’ll find plenty of wonderful things to enjoy in this show!

****1/2 FOUR AND A HALF STARS