[VARIETY/Comedy ~ NSW ~ SA PREMIERE]
The Flamingo at Gluttony – Rymill Park, Sat 8 Mar, 2025.
On a hot hot summer night, would you offer yourselves to the venue with awesome air conditioning and a show that intends to warp your mind just a little? I bet you say that to all the boys! Ha!
Greeting the now-cooling crowd with crude brilliance and an attitude not to be messed with, Deadpool (played by Andrew Waldin) speaks wisecrack and satire like it’s a first language as he sets to scene for tonight’s twisted R-rated bedtime stories. It’s all so fabulously crass. I mean, what’s a little mouth-spitting between friends?!
MARVELous The Show is a mash-up of our favourite Marvel Universe characters including Thor, Loki, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Scarlet Witch, who bend, dance, sing and contort their way though songs from Wicked, Hamilton, Flashdance, Dirty Dancing and so much more.
It takes very little time for Captain America (Michael Boyle) to tap-dance his way out of his uniform, with his shield as the only ‘protection’. The women in the seats around me voted the Captain’s butt cheeks as the ‘outstanding winners of this year’s Adelaide Fringe!’ It was declared not to be objectification of this young healthy specimen of a man, but merely ‘credit where credit is due!’. But, hey! God Bless America!
In an electrifying display of light that Thor himself would be proud of, multi-level staging, recognisable music parodies and easily-removed costumes it wasn’t only their bodies that they twisted, but also every Stan Lee storyline ever told; each one as messed-up and entertaining as the one before.
Ginuwine’s Pony becomes Ride It, My Tony and pays tribute Iron Man in a fury of grinder sparks and gyrating thrusts that Magic Mike would have been proud of. Emma Wong as Pony Tony is sexy and brutal, and a wonderful taste-test of what’s to follow.
The KGBallet is a beautiful fight scene in a race to the semi-naked finish and the killing of the bad guys with an asthma puffer – a reference to the movie IT. Iron Man and Spider-Man share a touching Hamilton moment together, while AC/DC’s Shoot To Thrill is a glorious display of feminine agility and laser light.
Fat Thor (Thomas Remaili) is Drunk Thor is Beer-On-The-Belly Thor is definitely Hammered Thor. His Flashdance moment included all the What A Feeling movements and a semi-areal pole dance that no one expected. A loving moment or three was shared between Captain America and Marvel’s rival, Buck, nakedly dancing with only the cover of their shields. Nobody Puts Bucky In The Corner is a mash-up between Hungry Eyes and Time Of My Life. The lift as the end is priceless and dead sexy!
Andrea Zappacosta as the misunderstood Loki of Asgard defies gravity as she sings There’s No Place Like Disney+ and the greatest shows you’ll ever watch. Zappacosta’s voice is powerful and the definite outstanding vocalist of the show.
MARVELous The Show is everything you could want in a show but never expect to get. Daring, satirical, hilarious, steeped in innuendo, sex and outstanding athleticisms. Although Deadpool’s mask made it sometimes difficult to understand what he was saying, the insults were deep, the sarcasm was sharp and the entire cast were brilliant!
Whether you go for the performance, the laughs, the acrobatics, the music, lighting and costumes or for the biting Marvel and movie references, may I suggest you just go and have a MARVELous time!
4.5 stars
Catherine Blanch
MARVELous The Show continues at The Flamingo at Gluttony, at various times, until Mon 10 Mar.
Book at FringeTIX and adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.
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All images courtesy of Ben Dingley
The Clothesline Rating...
Catherine Blanch
Daring, satirical, hilarious, steeped in innuendo, sex and outstanding athleticisms.
