ER at the Fringe: Kitty Cointreau's Brahaha

Kitty Cointreau has got to be one of the most ambitious burlesque dancers out there. Not satisfied with putting out a wide variety of classic and modern numbers (she might have the only 80s-themed routine in the business), she’s now assembled a bona fide touring variety show. In the best vaudeville fashion, Brahaha features something for every taste, parading burlesque belles, comics, musical numbers and circus performers in quick succession.

No two Brahaha shows are ever the same. Its roster relies on a heavily rotating selection of guest acts. Constant to all shows, other than Ms. Cointreau herself, is Irish sensation Patrick Monahan, who hosts the evening with his crowd-pleasing banter. Expect many jabs at the audience as the comic does not forgive them their names, looks or background.

On August 20^th, the circus was well represented. Two acrobats from Australian troupe Circus Trick Tease drew raving applause with impossible balancing stunts. The danger level was cranked up a notch further for Cat Aclysmic’s fire-eating finale, a burlesque tease routine where the dancer ignites flowers sent by a lover who abandoned her. Judging from her other number of the evening, a gun-totting homage to noir films performed to the sound of Chris Isaak’s “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing”, Ms. Aclysmic does not make a routine out of playing it safe.

Brahaha’s acts can be somewhat uneven: Missy Malone’s Kylie Minogue parody was rather uninspiring, while punk comic Wil Hodgson (the guy with the pink hair) let his jokes vanish in the shadow of the more serious issues of his sensitive material about skinheads and nationalism. By the same token, the bare stage and uniform bright lighting detract from the overall experience, proving especially harmful to the burlesque numbers that depend so heavily on visual moods. The room sometimes feels like a TV recording studio.

Kitty Cointreau unarguably owns the evening with her flawless burlesque. Her “Victorian Va Va Voom” routine is a fine example of how the burlesque format can amaze audiences with very little (in this case, an umbrella, confetti, period dress and sinuous, languid moves). The fact that she does not perform more often in the show that bears her name is in itself a merciless tease.

Kitty Cointreau's Brahaha. Conceived and performed by Kitty Cointreau and guest acts. Zoo Roxy, Edinburgh. 7-15, 17-29 August, 22:30. £9 (£8 concessions). www.myspace.com/catdaviescomedy.