Fringe Review: Yummy Deluxe

Yummy Deluxe is a glitter soaked fever dream that will leave you longing to ditch your boring job and follow your dreams. 

Fresh from seasons in London and Edinburgh, the exciting cabaret of drag, circus, dance and music are back in Melbourne to thrill hometown audiences as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. 

The drag burlesque hybrid is high-energy, camp and seamlessly executed. The performers are seasoned professionals. They own the space and the audience is instantly immersed in the world they have created. 

Each performer brings a unique energy to the show. There truly is something for everyone. 

Valerie Hex, Benjamin Hancock , Hannie Heldsen , Zelia Rose , Jandruze  and Joni in the Moon were the cast on the night I went, and the audience seemed equally in love with every performance. 

Hannie Heldsen was a standout for me. She elicited loud cheers for her hula-hoop skills, but is equally mesmerizing as a character actor. The smallest facial movements transform her whole persona, and I found it hard to drag my eyes away from her face. 

Yummy incorporates a unique sense of gender balance and fluidity into the performance. Valerie talks about their fearless inclusion of women into drag spaces, and gender equality in those people employed by the show, and it makes me love them even more. 

Book a ticket for Yummy Deluxe! Take your friends, go alone, either way you are guaranteed to leave inspired and smiling.

5 stars

Yummy Deluxe is on at Trades Hall as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival until September 29. More information and tickets can be found here.