‘NOT for the Easily Offended!!’ yelled the fliers. Self-styled ‘freak’, disabled actor, Mat Fraser, and Miss Exotic World, Julie Atlas Muz, promised ‘striptease, freak show and song’. I just had a feeling this show would be pretty out there… and oh boy was I right. ‘Will there be animals?’ asked my friend. I had warned him things could get pretty outrageous. But it was I who was shocked as all hell joyfully broke loose on stage.
It began so nicely. Mat Fraser, a hugely charismatic and charming performer, sings like Matt Monro and has a neat line in patter. Julie Atlas Muz is a surreal blonde with a big ass that she shakes with a knowing twinkle. Their first joint strip was camp, witty and friendly. A little light magic lured us in. Mat sang ‘Born Free’ with real joy and with a whole new meaning.
Then it all got a little weird. ‘Redemption Song’ by Bob Marley started to play. Let’s just say Julie’s next appearance was close-up and personal and gave a whole new meaning to the words ‘lip-synching’. Marley could smoke a joint like no one else but then he’d obviously never met Julie. It was oddly political, hilarious and deeply disturbing. I realised I’d led a pretty sheltered life.
Julie is a very talented girl – her strip routines are bold, surreal, imaginative and very rude – as was the rest of the show.
I was frankly terrified by the audience participation event. Taken hostage at gun-point, a huddle of willing and not so willing men and women were given nude pointers in ‘ass shaking’. They got off lightly. I can only hope the final two girls left on stage were mates of Mat’s as what they did with him and Julie in the name of show business cannot be repeated here. All I can say is, what happens in the Spiegeltent stays in the Spiegeltent. And it will stay with me for quite a long time.
My tender sensibilities aside, this is a powerful and boundary pushing show that knows exactly what it wants to be: a post-punk attack on our sense of what is appropriate, a wicked celebration of good old fashioned rudery. A proud and confident freak.
This morning I am still shocked. I think it’s in a good way…?
Go Mat. Go all the way.
