Spiegelworld has arrived in Melbourne and the team is busy preparing for the opening of its smash-hit Las Vegas show Absinthe, a follow-up to its record-breaking show Empire, which was seen by an incredible 200,000 Australians.
Inspired by the absinthe-drenched cabarets of late 19th century Europe, Absinthe is an adult-themed cocktail of circus, comedy, burlesque and vaudeville for a 21st century audience. In Las Vegas, the show has been playing to sold-out audiences at the world’s most famous casino, Caesars Palace since 2011 and celebrates its fourth anniversary in April.
Absinthe is hosted by the filthy rich and just plain filthy Gazillionaire and his loyal assistant Penny Pibbets who have become two of the most acclaimed and subversive comedy forces in Las Vegas in recent years. Intoxicating songs are performed live by the seductive sylph, The Green Fairy.
Melbourne audiences will be treated to three new international acts, specially hand-picked for the Australian tour, which will join the show’s line-up of jaw-dropping acts which have been wowing Las Vegas crowds.
Angie Sylvia from Sweden will perform a dangerous Fire Burlesque act that has never before been performed in Absinthe. She will also present the famous Balloon Strip, handed down to her by New York burlesque legend, Julie Atlas Muz, a star of the original production of Absinthe. Last year Angie was a featured artist in Spiegelworld’s acclaimed production, Vegas Nocturne at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The Birdcage Ladies, Laura von Bongard and Luka Clayburn from Germany, have created a breathtakingly sexy aerial hoop duet which had its world premiere in Newcastle recently. Los Dos Tacos (Andrei Sizonenka and Aliasandra Yurkavets from Belarus) will astound audiences with their heart-stopping human foosball routine on the high bar.
Other acts include Oleksandr Volohdn (Ukraine) building an impossibly high chair mountain; The Lost Souls (Ukraine) with their stunning acrobatic Banquine Act; the sensuous Jacob Oberman and Maika Isogawa (USA) on the Duo Straps; Michael Nowosadko and Zbigniew Sobierakski (Poland) displaying extraordinary grace and strength with their Hand Balance; and The Frat Pack (USA) on the daring High Wire.
“Absinthe is a rare opportunity to see these kinds of extreme circus acts performed in an intimate environment by some of the world’s most sexy and talented artists,” said Spiegelword’s Impresario, Ross Mollison. “The audience is so close to the action in the spiegeltent you can see the muscles rippling and hear the heavy breaths.”
Absinthe plays under the spiegeltent on the Rooftop at Crown Melbourne from 26 March. For more information, visit: absintheaustralia.com for details.
Image: photo by Tom Donoghue