Written By Fatema Sitabkhan
I’ve watched this show 5 times over the last 3 years and twice in the last week alone. And yet, every single time, I am blown away by the fire-fuelled fest that brings the heat at the Empyrean tent in Gluttony.
A pyrotechnics show that will never cease to sizzle the magic of the performance, Fuego Carnal has gained a cult following, for their excellent selection of performers, each of whom are highly trained and skilled to manipulate fire in ways that we didn’t think were possible. Sophie & Jacob McGrath, who own Dreamstate Entertainment and helped create their fire-retardant tent to accommodate the dangerous acts of the show, kicked off the show with an impeccable balancing act and fire spinning technique that pumped us in the audience for what awaited us.
Throughout the show, I remember freezing during the points that would make or break each segment and despite knowing that these performers are highly skilled to do what they do, part of me couldn’t help but silently hyperventilate, as they crafted their stance. Just when you think that the ‘extreme’ bit has been achieved in each act, they take it one step further to leave you in an awe-inspired silence. Sword swallower Aerial Manx doing backflips and aerials, whilst deepthroating a sword? Yeah, that happened! What about Orissa Kelly bending over backward to deliver the perfect bullseye shot with her foot? Unbelievable show stopper, right there! Ever heard of a bagpipe rendition of “We Will Rock You”, but with flames coming out of the bagpipe? We only have The Badpiper to thank for this epic masterpiece - just remember to look up, as he flies above the tent! And let’s not forget Alfredo Silva & Aleksandra Kiedrowicz, who performed a knife-throwing act that may as well have broken the rules of gravity and walked away from the act scratch-free? Oh yeah, and this was (successfully) attempted in what was aptly named The Satellite of Death? Easy done, no dramas (for them)! And saving the best for last, the hottest guy in town (literally and metaphorically speaking) Stevo Extremo treated us to a fiesta of a time, with his ability to play with fire through fire eating, fire spinning, fire twirling, and fire...whipping? There’s this visible twinkle in his eye that you can’t look past, every time he watches his fire-fuelled props take centre stage and give us a grand spectacle to light up the tent to speechless audiences.
There is quality humor that is thrown in between acts by Sophie and Felina the Great (Goddess of Passion), who both are able to weave their audiences into their equal parts cute and dangerous wit. Not only did each act challenge our guts, but they also left us with a touch of sensuality, as demonstrated by the insane flexibility and the brilliant choreography that lets them synchronize - not only to each other’s movements but also to the movement of fire itself. It’s a high paced, high adrenaline producing show that will leave your heart in your throat from watching the impossible be performed right in front of you.
Buy tickets to Fuego Carnal HERE!
5 out of 5 stars
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