Image: FringeWorld
The Freak and the Showgirl are a daring duo, perfectly at home in the Spiegeltent, who deliver what they promise – Mat Fraser, modern day poster boy for phocomelia and Julie Atlas Muz, showgirl who embraces the grand traditions of her artform. Combining education, advocacy and celebration of “flamboyantly styled” bodies, this show never hits a low or dry point when it comes to pure entertainment. This show’s title allegedly stands for “Totally Inclusive Theatrical Spectacular”, but this says as much as their love of cheesy gags as it does about the show’s content.
The performance comprises the tried and true collection of vaudeville, burlesque, freakshow and audience participatory mayhem that fans of this duo know and love. As well as Fraser’s humorously informative explanation of his condition, a useful introduction to his personal in utero encounter with thalidomide, we see the return of some of the strongest highlights of their act. Always fascinating is Fraser’s tribute to his predecessor, Sealo (Stanislaus Berent), a star of the freakshow circuit in the USA from 1929 to 1976. Fraser presents a 1930’s style freakshow tent performance complete with running banter, containing interesting parallels with his own earlier introduction. A touch of vaudeville takes the stage with a poignant ukulele duet of “Paper Moon”, Muz’s arms through a jacket worn by Fraser and “it wouldn’t be make believe, if you believe in me”. However pathos never stays long, with raunchy burlesque routines from Muz, who knows exactly how and when to pout, smile and provoke, and new material from Mr Pussy. Mr Pussy stars as a video clip of Muz’s labial lipsynching, to the theme from the musical Hair, with interesting pubic hair dos and filters providing hilarious character development. While Fraser and Muz take turns with creative strip routines, Fraser delivers a heartfelt spoken tribute to the life achievements and passing of Stella Young, followed by a moving slideshow of disabilities, issues and triumphs set to his pleasant tenor rendition of “Somewhere” from West Side Story, taking his turn to reject the notion of “inspiration porn”.
Treading into potentially tricky territory with a “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” dance routine, with Muz celebrating possibly the poorest attempt at an Australian accent in this year’s FringeWorld, the pair show their eagerness to court controversy both local and global. However, the audience do not particularly respond to the controversial references to celebrity child abuse, showing more interest in Fraser’s strip routine featuring prosthetic arms. Fraser reveals his age at one point, and there are few “conservatively styled” bodied young men who would not envy his current muscular tone and development, at the ripe age of 53.
With consistently high energy levels, this pair live for the limelight and love their audiences. Their celebration of physical expression, sexual honesty and personal liberty is sincere, underpinning their antics and guiding their talents. Their FringeWorld presence enriches the festival line up and inspires audiences far beyond the hour of breakneck entertainment.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Freak and the Showgirl: Greatest T.I.T.S
FringeWorld
The West Australian Spiegelten
Presented by Oneofus & Flash in the Can
Performed by Mat Fraser and Julie Atlas Muz
17 – 22 February 2015
