Show Review: Freaklesque: Nightmare Realm
Show Review
Freaklesque: Nightmare Realm
Review by Evie Lee
Freaklesque is an equally mesmerizing, captivating and terrifying neoburlesque show that showcases strange and unconventional acts, ones that would normally stick out like a sore thumb in classic burlesque spaces. At Freaklesque, fake blood, contortion, and horror are more common than sequins, glitter, and tassels.
In the haze of the fog machine, Phoenix Phantasma, the creator of Freaklesque, commenced by announcing to the expectant audience that they had forgotten to hire performers for the night. Instead, they explained that they had given Ralph —the fluffy, blue puppet on their arm— an amulet that transforms his nightmares into real-life apparitions. For the apparitions to appear, Ralph must be asleep and dreaming. But luckily for us, Phoenix joked, Ralph “popped an Ambien” and “had a job interview in the morning.”
Greeted with laughter and anticipation from the crowded room, Phoenix encouraged Ralph to dream of dolls and other creepy entities. She proceeded to tuck him into a bed sheet just as Dick Jones joined the stage to Freak by Sub Urban dressed as a porcelain doll. Between every set, Ralph would wake from his nightmare, shocked at his visions of on-stage murder, mutilation,
and demonic entities. Phoenix would then encourage him to think of scarecrows, Bloody Mary, or Jennifer’s Body to soothe him and segue into the following act.
The cast included Dick Jones, Velvet Spade, Kit Kendall, Sailem from Hell, Old Bones Morales, and Phoenix Phantasma, all of whom delivered the unexpected. This included and was not limited to “murdering” an audience member on stage, ripping fake intestines from a fellow cast member’s torso, biting down on a fake heart, and stapling objects onto one’s body with a
staple gun.
Freaklesque first debuted on April Fools' Day of this year as a clown-themed burlesque and sideshow. Due to its success, Freaklesque is now a monthly show with varying themes and alternating cast members.
The next show, themed “Childhood Ruiners,” is Tuesday, November 4th at 7 pm at the AllWays Lounge.
Freaklesque: Nightmare Realm
Review by Evie Lee
Freaklesque is an equally mesmerizing, captivating and terrifying neoburlesque show that showcases strange and unconventional acts, ones that would normally stick out like a sore thumb in classic burlesque spaces. At Freaklesque, fake blood, contortion, and horror are more common than sequins, glitter, and tassels.
In the haze of the fog machine, Phoenix Phantasma, the creator of Freaklesque, commenced by announcing to the expectant audience that they had forgotten to hire performers for the night. Instead, they explained that they had given Ralph —the fluffy, blue puppet on their arm— an amulet that transforms his nightmares into real-life apparitions. For the apparitions to appear, Ralph must be asleep and dreaming. But luckily for us, Phoenix joked, Ralph “popped an Ambien” and “had a job interview in the morning.”
Greeted with laughter and anticipation from the crowded room, Phoenix encouraged Ralph to dream of dolls and other creepy entities. She proceeded to tuck him into a bed sheet just as Dick Jones joined the stage to Freak by Sub Urban dressed as a porcelain doll. Between every set, Ralph would wake from his nightmare, shocked at his visions of on-stage murder, mutilation,
and demonic entities. Phoenix would then encourage him to think of scarecrows, Bloody Mary, or Jennifer’s Body to soothe him and segue into the following act.
The cast included Dick Jones, Velvet Spade, Kit Kendall, Sailem from Hell, Old Bones Morales, and Phoenix Phantasma, all of whom delivered the unexpected. This included and was not limited to “murdering” an audience member on stage, ripping fake intestines from a fellow cast member’s torso, biting down on a fake heart, and stapling objects onto one’s body with a
staple gun.
Freaklesque first debuted on April Fools' Day of this year as a clown-themed burlesque and sideshow. Due to its success, Freaklesque is now a monthly show with varying themes and alternating cast members.
The next show, themed “Childhood Ruiners,” is Tuesday, November 4th at 7 pm at the AllWays Lounge.