In a far-off land, on the Greek island of Lesbos, a handful of priestesses perform their “sacred service” for the slightly unconventional goddess of love, Aphrodite – but when the women in the temple find that there are no men left to get work from, they must use unconventional means to find new clientele. From online chatting to mail order brides, Aphrodite’s Bordello is clear proof that sex sells.
Don’t be fooled by the small scale of the stage in the Revolt Melbourne ballroom, as the stage is all around you. Girls in fishnets and lingerie twirl and kick around you, lean on your chair and even reach out to slightly caress your face. Nothing is off limits in this cabaret and not even your drink is safe! Combined with the live music, which ranges from a violin to banjo, the performance becomes a vivid sensory performance that not once becomes uninteresting.
As the curtain closes between each skit the audience erupts in applause and pitchy jeering, and the mood suddenly shifts to one of anxious excitement. Attempts to guess the setting of the next skit are always shown up every time the curtain opens to reveal a highly original and unsuspected set – in Aphrodite’s Bordello, the domestic bliss of a washing machine, an impromptu talent show and an odd auction are fair game for cabaret.
The jokes are quick and often reveal the humour behind being a woman – feminists, eat your heart out! The social commentary by the women in the show is inescapable, with numerous skits poking fun at the daily routine: bra stuffing, Brazilian waxing and cleaning get a mention. This may make it seem like a show only for women, but there’s definitely something in it for the men as well. (After all, the girls are in fishnet stockings and skimpy costumes.)
Throughout the show the characters’ (slightly-exaggerated) personalities are maintained flawlessly. With characters like the over-achieving goody-goody and the socially awkward one it’s hard not to relate; whether it’s a mirror image of yourself or someone less familiar, you can always find a connection.
A tad inappropriate but always entertaining, Aphrodite’s Bordello successfully delivers an original dance cabaret to the Fringe Festival program. This is a not-to-be-missed show and hopefully there are many more of Miss Friby’s productions in the years to come.
Aphrodite’s Bordello runs until 14 October at the Ballroom, Revolt Melbourne. Full ticketing information is available on the Fringe Festival website.
