Fringe Review: Kubrilesque (S. Chandler)

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so, also, is evil.

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so, also, is evil. As Stanley Kubrick suggests in 1971’s cult classic, A Clockwork Orange, and later in 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut, one person’s party is another’s hell. Los Angeles’ burlesque troupe Kubrilesque not only comments on this paradox, they put it to a beat and get down to it, employing the familiar terrain of sexy striptease (pasties and feather boas) with a malevolent, underworld edge (whips, mouth gags, and an AK-47). What’s most impressive, aside from the economy with which they evoke twelve Kubrick films in just over an hour, is that they manage pull off not only sex and evil, but wry humor as well. It’s an admirable feat, and one that Kubrick himself never accomplished in Eyes Wide Shut, a sensual, disturbing, yet wholly unfunny ordeal that admonished viewers to take Nicole Kidman’s and Tom Cruise’s sex appeal so seriously that they’ve been a bit silly to us ever since.

Skeptics, take note of this show: for those of you who think of burlesque dancers as merely strippers with more clothes on, think again: these girls are pinups with a PhD in film studies, who tackle Kubrick’s oeuvre with brazen abandon and witty physical repartee. Elaborate costumes keep the audiences guessing: writer-director team Polly Peabody and Crystal Swarovski, understand the idea of “leaving something to the imagination,” and wisely time their hot and heavy g-string moments to be the cherry on the cake––rather than the cake itself. Dance numbers surprise and charm perhaps more than they titillate, but isn’t that the point to burlesque? We leave the theater deep in thought, feeling a little bit smarter and a little bit sexier. Hmmm…sounds like a Kubrick film.

Video on YouTube

WATCH: Hungarian PM Victor Orbán Booed at Reopening of Prague State Opera House by Caroline Marcela
On Sunday Evening, Hungarian PM Victor Orbán was received with jeers and boos from protesters as he attended the reopening of the State Opera House gala event. Protesters shouted out ‘hanba’, meaning shame in Czech as he exited his private car.
'Movie Barf Monday' - a weekly English friendly film night by Ryan Keating
Movie Barf and Edison Filmhub are thrilled to present 'Movie Barf Monday' - a weekly English friendly film night dedicated to screening a diverse variety of award-winning contemporary and classic films in the new Edison Filmhub cinema and bar located in Prague's old town.
The Prague Orgy - a new Czech film in English in Czech cinemas by Michal Kráčmer
LESS LIBERTY, BETTER FUCKS
Festival 4+4 Days in Motion by Eliška Míkovcová (4+4 Festival)
Festival 4+4 Days in Motion to start in Desfours Palace, this year’s slogan is Nobody Has Anything
Lunchmeat Festival 2019—Dark Stars on the Horizon by Tony Ozuna - (Photo Lunchmeat Festival)
Lunchmeat Festival returns to Prague at the end of September as the leading arena for cutting-edge electronic music and with more audio-visual punch than ever before. Their new motto is a challenge to the mainstream: “obsessed with audio-visual mindf**cks— & those who question the status quo.”
The Best European Locations For Hen & Stag Do's by Lucy Stevens
Alpha Travel Insurance have ranked Europe's top Stag and Hen do destinations and indexed them based on factors including the cost of flights and hotel, the cost of a pint and the number of bars and activities available to find out which city comes out on top.
Circus and Theatre Festival Letní Letná Kicks off Next Week by Paul Lysek
The "Leave the Crowd Speachless" Summer Circus Festival is back for its 16th Season at Letna.
Events for the week of August 19 - 23 by Narmin Ismiyeva
We've highlighted five events for this week including The Great Beauty, Latino Anděl and Festival of Illustration.
Events for the weekend 17 - 18 August by Narmin Ismiyeva
Are you making plans for the weekend? We've highlighted six events including the 1981 Secondhand Festival, beer tasting in the Botanical Garden, Etnopicnic and a lesson of Argentine tango atop Lucerna.
Events for the weekend 3 - 4 August by Narmin Ismiyeva
Are you making plans for the weekend? We've selected six events including the Czech version of the famous South Asian festival of love and colors that will take place on Střelecký Island on Saturday.