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Steampunk on Steroids
15/02/2015 11:30 pmFor the first time since returning to Oz there has been two gorgeous mild normal days. No icky sticky cloying mugginess where simply breathing is sufficient to break out in a hot clammy pool of sweat. I actually feel almost human although I did manage to get a nasty patch of sunburn while in the city.
February is festival time in Dursleyville. In the good old days this used to mean half price tickets and lots of fun, fabulous French street theatre. Some of the shows were so good that I would see them four or five times and consider it well worth paying $20 for a taxi home in order to watch again on the March long weekend when the buses finish before 8pm.
The yuppies then took over and that was the end of the freebies. Thank God the Fringe festival came along to bring back a bit of good cheap fun.
But this year was different. The organizers decided to go back to the good old days of street theatre but this time on steroids. No funny freaks or mannequins up to mischief in shop window nor the wonderful swords and sandals Biblical epics in makeshift arenas like the previous performances from Royale de Lux. This time they would bring over two monstrous steampunk giants with a supporting cast of Lilliputans in steampunk outfits to pull levers and gears and generally jump up and down to get the show moving.
( Giant steps )
Still amused to think that so many Aussies came out into the streets to celebrate something that wasn't a football match. But now the secret is well and truly out. No one does street theatre quite like the froggies. They can make even enormous lumbering wood and metal mannequins look fun and elegant.
The giants were impressive but they will never quite match their predecessors "Mephistomania" for sheer melodrama and magical spookiness. Such a pity the show was from the old days before decent online videos.
At least the wicked cackling Diva of another amazing French group - Les Arts Sauts is still lurking in Cyberia
February is festival time in Dursleyville. In the good old days this used to mean half price tickets and lots of fun, fabulous French street theatre. Some of the shows were so good that I would see them four or five times and consider it well worth paying $20 for a taxi home in order to watch again on the March long weekend when the buses finish before 8pm.
The yuppies then took over and that was the end of the freebies. Thank God the Fringe festival came along to bring back a bit of good cheap fun.
But this year was different. The organizers decided to go back to the good old days of street theatre but this time on steroids. No funny freaks or mannequins up to mischief in shop window nor the wonderful swords and sandals Biblical epics in makeshift arenas like the previous performances from Royale de Lux. This time they would bring over two monstrous steampunk giants with a supporting cast of Lilliputans in steampunk outfits to pull levers and gears and generally jump up and down to get the show moving.
( Giant steps )
Still amused to think that so many Aussies came out into the streets to celebrate something that wasn't a football match. But now the secret is well and truly out. No one does street theatre quite like the froggies. They can make even enormous lumbering wood and metal mannequins look fun and elegant.
The giants were impressive but they will never quite match their predecessors "Mephistomania" for sheer melodrama and magical spookiness. Such a pity the show was from the old days before decent online videos.
At least the wicked cackling Diva of another amazing French group - Les Arts Sauts is still lurking in Cyberia
