When you go to a Tash York show, you know you're in for chaos. I mean, CHAOS is in the title (this year), so you can't be surprised when it ensues onstage. Last year, I saw Tash bring a cavalcade of cirque, acro, and magic talents to her show, while this year she's changed it up a bit and hunted down some of the best burlesque performers for Chaos Cabaret. On Saturday night, I had the pleasure of watching Trigger Happy, Moisty Magic, and Ferri Maya strut their stuff, and with Tash York bringing the chaos once again, it's fair to say a hilarious, ridiculous, and pandemonious time was had by all.
It's probably not the usual way to start a show, but drinking wine out of one of Tash York's funbags is definitely an interesting introduction to Chaos Cabaret. There she was, freshly tapped, with red and white wine, offering a sip to anyone interested. From then on, it was a fairly funny yet formulaic start to the show, as three Fringe artists arrived on stage and performed before their music was twisted for sixty seconds and they had to improvise. It was fun, but I was hoping for something more, and it was at about the twenty-minute mark when Chaos Cabaret really lived up to its name. With interactive audience voting, Tash York at her unscripted best, and three unhinged performers allowed to be themselves, mayhem eventually reigned. Moisty Magic is always dangerously funny with a live mic in hand and had the audience in tears of laughter with her chaotic (there's that word again) nonsense. Trigger Happy is a modern-day Chris Farley and nearly stole the show with his dance numbers and crowd interaction. I'm glad it wasn't my head that he was licking. That poor chap happened to be a bald bloke sitting across the aisle from me. The standout of the night, though, was Ferri Maya. This captivating burlesque dancer was asked to sing with Tash and did her absolute best to give it a go. When that wasn't working out, she did what she does best, seductively disrobing and showing her assets to the crowd.
I love seeing performers be themselves onstage, and Chaos Cabaret was the perfect Saturday night show for this to happen. Unhindered, unfiltered, and undressed, this was the Adelaide Fringe at its finest.
****1/2 Four and a Half Stars.