Overview
Continuing the recent trend of niche performances in more mainstream venues, The Edge presents Cabaret Askew, brainchild of NZ’s Kali-Zahira, which you can see in the full-on, less-than-five-metres-away intimacy of the Herald Theatre this week.
Kali, back in NZ after performing in Asia and the Middle East, brings with her an accomplished history of choreographing burlesque, belly-dancing and circus performance, and I think it’s safe to say that one or all of these elements will feature in Cabaret Askew. After all, the one rule of cabaret is to make sure your audience is entertained (and after all, the promo poster features a frilly, panty-clad bum).
The show promises to be "cheeky" and "titillating", the performers "well-rounded individuals", but I don’t think this show will be a vapid, jiggly affront to womankind. After reading more on Kali-Zahira and her company, Singe Performance, Cabaret Askew looks to be more of an alternative Cirque Du Soleil, with performers in their prime and loving what they do; they’ll probably make us go “what the…?” more than once. Singe places emphasis on the structure and mechanics behind dance, showcasing what the body is capable of, and Cabaret Askew will do that via a personality-filled scaffold of risqué humour and caricatures.
While Cabaret Askew is the debut show from Singe, years of Fringe Festival experience from Kali and her performers has honed it into the show it is (or will be) this week: expect professionalism and talent in abundance.