The cast of Glory Box: Lucky 13. Image via Arts Centre.
Finucane and Smith are a performance genre onto themselves. Their blend of cabaret, burlesque circus and devilishly titillating humour make their shows a glorious sensual onslaught. This is not the first opening of the famous Glory Box but Lucky 13 picks up where 2015’s Viva La Revolucion left off and although a few proven crowd pleasers have held their places in the new show, there is still a feast of new faces, acts and moments to make the jaw drop.
At its centre though is the incomparable Moira Finucane whose passion, vitality and fearlessness only seem to increase with time. She is ring master, diva, agent provocateur and perfectly convincing male striptease who’s proclivity for a bit of nudity makes total sense given that clothes would struggle to maintain the presence she commands. She holds nothing back and her red-line attitude brings the audience along for the ride, hearts beating wildly in their chests. Few great acts are solos though and less visible but no less important is Finucane’s creative partner, Jackie Smith.
Old hands like Rocki Stone return but new faces like Kamahi Djordon King (aka Constantina Bush) give fresh life and their own personal touches to the mouth full juicy fruit that is Glory Box. It’s quite literally food for thought. Just like its predecessor, Lucky 13 elevates ordinary objects and actions to the kind of dripping climaxes that make it unlikely you’ll ever look at a meat pie the same way again. It’s this ability to create entirely new perspectives that make each successive act a thrilling anticipation.
Lucky 13 also brings a new cast of outstanding guest acts. From Rhonda Burchmore’s booming songs to Mark McLauchlan impossible acrobatics on the pole the pulsating Yeshe Maherete, Lucky 13 offers a rare opportunity to see such a diverse and high-quality ensemble.
There’s plenty of raunch, as one would expect, but there are no simple flashes of skin here. There are bound bodies and artful exposures but best of all there is laughter. Not self-deprecating laughter or any crass resort to ridicule but a clever aphrodisiac humour that is what gives displays of nudity a real allure. Even if cabaret or burlesque are not your usual preference, Lucky 13, offers something that none of its myriad influences can offer alone. It will make you laugh, gasp and perhaps even elicit an ‘oh my’ as items disappear up… well you’ll just have to see for yourself.
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Glory Box: Lucky 13
Co-created by Moira Finucane and Jackie Smith
Starring Moira Finucane, Azaria Universe, Rockie Stone, Holly Durant, Lily Paskas, Beni Lola, with special guest stars.
Lighting Designer Simon Hardy
Finucane & Smith Associate Producer Nic Dorward
The Arts Centre Fairfax Theatre
As part of Midsumma Festival
24 – 29 January 2017
