Le Gateau Chocolat is a large, bearded, opera-singing, British-Nigerian drag queen. He’s also a really lovely guy. Previously one of the stars of the travelling cabaret/variety show, La Soirée, Le Gateau has come to Perth Fringe World solo (the Adelaide Fringe being his next stop), with a show that uses song and monologue to tell the tale of what it is like to be a large, bearded, opera-singing, British-Nigerian drag queen.
Accounts vary on how much drag Le Gateau Chocolat brought with him exactly, but estimates sit at around 70-80 kilograms. It all hangs densely packed on a clothes rack onstage, a clothes rack that Le Gateau has named ‘Bruce’. Other than holding an immense amount of clothing, Bruce also acts as a portal: when Le Gateau is on the audience side of the clothes rack, he explains, he is onstage; and when he ducks through the collection of sparkling costumes and settles at his vanity mirror to apply or remove makeup and clothing, he is safely backstage. Onstage is where the songs are usually performed, in a rich and powerful baritone. Backstage is where the stories are told: warm, personal monologues, speckled with philosophical insights and observations.
The show perhaps didn’t fair perfectly in its transition into a solo show. It is a little slowly paced at times, perhaps light on content, and there are more than a few moments that could very easily become terribly awkward without the right crowd. (Lucky, then, that he has allies in a place like Fringe.) The real strength of the show lies in its refreshing honesty. You get the impression early on that Chocolat has settled into being completely himself, onstage at least, and he is himself without apology. He tells us, in fact, that everything which for him is a weakness in real life becomes a strength onstage.
This is a show completely devoid of aggression or ill-will. Le Gateau spends an hour being lovely – telling lovely stories, singing lovely songs. His humour is unassuming and warm. His manner is unhurried.
If you’re after conflict or fast-paced action, this is not the show for you. Otherwise, it’s pretty hard not to have fallen in love with Le Gateau Chocolat by the time the house lights are brought up.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Strut & Fret Production House presents:
Le Gateau Chocolat
Performed by Le Gateau Chocolat
Producer: Sarah Stewart
De Parel Spiegeltent
Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
Season concluded
Fringe World 2013
www.fringeworld.com.au
25 January – 24 February
