The Wau Wau Sisters have attracted adoring crowds each year at Fringe World, and word of mouth brings new faces to every show. They present amazing acrobatic and aerial work mixed with medleys of songs, some strip routines, plenty of audience interaction and rapid-paced banter. The strength of their shows has been the thematic underpinning of the tent-full of mayhem each time, including religious inspiration behind The Last Supper and the Beatles’s soundtrack to ‘Come Together!‘ A more personal series of events ties the latest offering together, starting with a killer opening sequence which included re-enactments of security measures taken by the Brisbane Festival and Queensland Police for their performances of The Last Supper in 2012.
The high energy, bubbly recounting of the highly dramatic events are told in tandem by Adrienne Truscott and Tanya Gagne, delivered with remarkably fresh enthusiasm. A reprise of scenes from The Last Supper entertains in its own right, as well as setting context for the moral outrage of the Wau Wau Sisters’ most menacing critic. Some incestuous slapstick displays exquisite physical balance alongside snappy commentary on unfolding events. Conversation with the audience follows, as drinks are consumed, costumes changed, and a cheery singalong about the joys of familial love ensues. There is a gorgeous camaraderie with audience members in a costume-exchange and lip-synching sequence which brings good-natured chuckles. Next, the signature aerial duet has the sisters spinning, whirling, dangling and tongue-waggling in fine style. A closing awards ceremony brings more members of the audience and Fringe World volunteers on to the stage for a grand finale, as the Wau Wau Sisters celebrate the sincere flattery of righteous outrage.
The conversational nature of Death Threats is engaging, but leads to the show seeming slower than the hectically-paced presentations of previous years. Impressively, the vacuous personae of the sisters come packaged with a strong sense of scheduling and some barbed quips are sent towards the technical crew when sound cues are missed. The performers’ love of the Fringe is evident, but this latest offering is less substantial than what has come before. Somehow, the weaker theme leaves the show as a collection of blasphemous, taboo-referencing moments of outrageous behaviour… but always done with engaging smiles and remarkably strong, fit bodies.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The Wau Wau Sisters: Death Threats (& other forms of flattery)
De Parel Spiegeltent, Urban Orchard, Perth Cultural Centre
Fringe World
www.fringeworld.com.au
24– 29 January
