Review: Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival Blanc de Blanc
Acrobatics, dance routines in oversized balloons, tasteful nudity and loads of champagne is what you can expect at Blanc de Blanc, the headlining act for this year’s Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival. Not one for the kids, think burlesque meets cabaret then add a dash of whimsy and you’ll have a little of an idea of what to expect at the awe-inspiring show. This stunning spectacle offers plenty of sass and some “what!” moments as well.
The French-themed cabaret show had a strong focus on champagne, with bottles getting passed around the stage and popped throughout the routine. The first half of the show provided the background story to set up the more intense second half, which started with a bang as three naked performers took to the stage and danced around – something to grab the audience’s attention. In the first half we meet host Romeo, who charms and delights as he struts the stage. There was a hula hoop routine that dazzled, a woman who completely immersed herself in a huge balloon and bopped around the stage, as well as a synchronised dance to the classic ‘Mr. Sandman’. A slightly uncomfortable but still entertaining moment was when one of the cast was dislocating his shoulders and getting into some strange positions.
The show was taken up a notch towards the end with an aerial routine. It included a man and woman creating some stunning lines and doing flips and spins as they were occasionally dunked into the hot tub below.
This modern take on the art of burlesque will have you laughing along, too, with plenty of comedic moments throughout. The titillating show makes for an entertaining night that will leave you thinking ‘wow’.
Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival, Blanc de Blanc, The Spiegeltent, January 23 – February 15, 2020
breadandcircus.co.nz