Written by Ro Bright
Directed by Kitan Petkovski
Review by Eve Nugent
The audience is invited to sit around small circular tables at the foot of the stage in Assembly Checkpoint – an exciting, intimate atmosphere is immediately established. Upstage centre sits a silk pink screen embroidered with a red ribboned heart, glamorous suitcases draped with a cropped blonde wig, and an austere cello waiting to be played. On struts the splendidly sexy Tomáš Kantor, dressed up to the nines in fierce high-heeled boots and a slinky bodysuit. What follows is an hour of fun and punchy cabaret and excellent storytelling, as this Australian upcoming sensation ticks all of the entertainment boxes.
Tom is a self-proclaimed “genderqueer-twink sugar baby”, who renames themselves as “Sugar”. Inspired by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, they yearn to have a paying Sugar Daddy – this is where 59-year-old Richard from an online dating app comes in… Remarkably polished storytelling reveals the early, sparkly moments of their romance, meeting in a mysterious bar and getting it on atop a grand piano, shifting suddenly to the dark and uncomfortable. Tom manipulates their voice with skill to demonstrate each diverse character with individuality, weaving in humour to the already the wacky story.
Not only is this cabaret show sprinkled with comedy and raunchy narration, but it is also packed with incredible musical talent. Tom grinds on the cello, pours their heart out on the piano, and sings with incredible control and flair. They manage to build a rapport with the spectator, whether by giving spontaneous lap-dances or by directing the audience in a two-part harmony of an orgasm.
With a heavy sprinkling of Chappell Roan, and fabulous costume changes matching the show’s vibrant energy, Sugar truly has it all. An overarching, beautiful message is communicated with queer lucidity – don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd, unapologetically be yourself, and most of all, make sure to “be too much”.
A Beautiful Message
Sugar runs at Assembly Checkpoint
Running time: Seventy minutes without interval
Review by Eve Nugent (contact@corrblimey.uk)
An undergraduate French student at the University of Edinburgh, Eve has a diverse interest in theatre and performance. Her primary devotion is acting, predominantly at Bedlam Theatre with her fellow students, but also with French group ‘Les Escogriffes’ who perform annually at the French Institute of Scotland.
Her creative attention stretches also to classical music, as she enjoys playing the flute, piano and guitar. She thus looks forward to watching whatever the Fringe has to offer, irrespective of genre!
