Smashed: The Brunch Party

SMASHED: THE BRUNCH PARTY

Curator Victoria Falconer

The Grand Electric

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP

Burlesque is back at The Grand Electric, and it’s being performed during the daylight hours with a rotating cast of performers with an emphasis on diversity. Although it’s roots are in burlesque, Smashed: The Brunch Party includes vaudeville, drag, cabaret, circus and song.

Performers include Burlesque Hall of Fame winner Bettie Bombshell, Kween Kong from RuPaul's Drag Race, Burlesque award-winner Karlee Misi, musical theatre performer Kala Gare and Brendan de la Hay who wears very high, high heels. He must have been trained in stilt walking.

The burlesque performers who typically have Kardashian-esque figures are remarkably agile and flexible. The act involving the long pair of straps suspended from the ceiling is impressive.

The topless whip cracker is also interesting, moving about the central, circular stage while cracking two whips. It’s impossible for you to take your eyes off her. I assume that the act was passed by OH&S.

MC Victoria Falconer keeps the high energy and fast pace rolling along with quick dialogue and audience interaction.

According to the media release, “Drawing on traditions of vaudeville, music hall and underground queer performance, SMASHED celebrates the inclusive spaces where outsiders have long found community, creativity and freedom of expression.”

That attitude might have been accurate decades ago, but these days it’s unusual to find a performer who isn’t representative of gender diversity. On several occasions, Victoria Falconer referred to The Grand Electric being a “safe space”. Is it for the performers? The audience? Which venues are not considered safe spaces?

I know some people who can’t or don’t like to go out at night, so a daytime show is perfect for them.

In any case, SMASHED: THE BRUNCH PARTY will provide you with more than an hour of enthralling entertainment on a Saturday afternoon.