Review - Back To The Bathouse

Reviews, By Travis de Jonk, 11th September, 2009

Back To The Bathhouse is the daring new show by Melbourne performer, notorious scene identity and instigator of the Gay Shame parties, Mzzz Erin Tasmania. Inspired by Bette Midler’s performances in gay men’s bath houses back in the 70’s, the show takes place at Wet On Wellington, a gay men’s sauna. It’s a Melbourne first and a bit of a risky venture, with no one really knowing whether cabaret entertainment would sit well with sauna patrons who are usually there just for sex. Well, the risks have paid off, and the great turn out of opening night punters agree.

As you enter the sauna, you’re offered the opportunity to just watch the show, or make full use of the sauna services. The price is the same no matter what you want to do. The performance area makes use of the most beautiful and visual part of the sauna, with a stage built over the lap pool which is decorated in white plaster roman statues and colourful lighting. It was lovely to hang out in a part of the sauna that doesn’t really get used as much as it should.

The show opens with Tasmania’s version of ‘Let Me Entertain You’. The initial shaky start, created no doubt by opening night jitters, was quickly overcome by the second song to create an outstanding night of fabulous, fun and naughty cabaret entertainment that simply has to be experienced. Through a collection of carefully selected songs and cleverly honest storytelling, Tasmania takes her audience on a hilarious and at times deeply touching journey through love, loss, casual sex, weird relationships and online dating. And then of course there are her dancers and fabulous side kicks, ‘the fagettes’ whose attitude and understated but strong performances added a touch of cheeky fun and really helped elevate the whole work.

There were some moments that were better than others. The best moments in the show came when Tasmania really connected with the songs she was singing. They became gorgeous, deep and elaborately layered stories told through unsaid words, inflections and gestures, which were just wonderful and engaging. Tasmania’s rendition of Beast Of Burden and Miss Otis Regrets are easily highlights. She really does have a rather good voice.

Tasmania manages to truly connect with her audience with honesty and frankness about her sexuality and relationships. The humorous story telling is mostly fantastic and very engaging, especially her vividly explicit and awkward story of her online sex date with the man known only as ‘Heated Moments’.

All through the performance, the costumes are fabulously O.T.T. and camp, and really help set a light tone.
By the end, even the most resistant ‘sauna’ patron was there enthusiastically watching the show in their towel, or swimming naked in the pool alongside fully clothed show patrons.

The whole set up an performance really does change the energy of the sauna for the better, lightening up the overall mood of the venue and it’s patrons. It also highlights what a beautiful venue Wet On Wellington is, with is neo classical touches and gorgeous lighting.

Wet’s owners need to be commended for being brave and taking a risk on some great art.

While Mzzz Tasmania is also doing the show at the Madame Brussles bar where both women and men are welcome (fully clothed of course), part of what makes this show so wonderful, fun and fresh is it’s location at the sauna, which unfortunately doesn’t let women in. If you’re a guy, I strongly recommend checking out the sauna show. If sauna’s are really not your thing, or if you’re a woman, then I’d still strongly recommend checking out this very fun cabaret event. You won’t be disappointed.

Back To The Bathouse plays at Wet On Wellington and Madame Brussles till 28th September. Click here for full details.