Bisexual Intellectuals - Melbourne Fringe Festival (2024)
Presented as part of Melbourne Fringe Festiva. Written and performed by Millicent Sarre, Rosie Russell & Jemma Allen
An intellectual, authentic, heartfelt and funny exploration of the bisexual experience
Reviewed by Rachael Vassallo
Trades Hall: Fringe Common Rooms
Season: 02-13 October
What does it mean to be a bisexual intellectual? Bisexuality is the most common queer sexuality, yet it is the most erased and stigmatised. Bisexual Intellectuals is a cabaret created and performed by three bisexual intellectuals; Millicent Sarre, Jemma Allen, Rosie Russell that challenges societal preconceptions and focuss on Bi acceptance. Bisexual Intellectuals is a sociopolitical work that focuses on bisexual erasure and stereotypes. It largely caters towards a bisexual audience and seeks to challenge the perceptions of non-identified audiences; the focus is primarily on sexuality.
The writing addresses sexual themes with without becoming crass. Such themes in a work about bisexuality are inescapable, and it is a challenge to perform them without making the audience feel uneasy, but each of the triple-threat artists achieve this successfully while demonstrating their exemplary vocal talents.
The opening number focuses on a stereotype: that bisexual people cannot sit on chairs. I personally have never heard of this, though it appears well-known by those around me. As an opening theme song, it provides a memorable and catchy number that captures our attention from the very first notes, mocking themselves in a brilliantly humorous manner.
Photos by Kieran Humphreys
Next we're introduced to ‘Bisexual Bingo’, a last-standing game of audience participation. Audience members are asked to stand up or hold their hand up. Common stereotypes are read out with unfulfilling attendees being asked to sit down until we're left with the most archetypical bisexual. I have no idea if this person was an audience member or un-credited and planted actor but they did brilliantly - but I have no clue how my autism would cope with being asked to come up on stage and participate in the performance.
A particularly memorable number is one dedicated to vaginismus; this piece is exceptionally funny and informative without becoming uncomfortably sexual. The play challenges tropes of hypersexuality with a piece discussing another stereotype and calling it out for being what it is: slut shaming. I found this number to be one of the most moving as it exposes and articulates the misogynistic undertones and double standards of slut shaming bisexuality.
...an uplifting, validating and funny exploration of the bisexual experience.
Variety cabaret can be very disjointed, and while Bisexual Intellectuals has continuing themes, it lacks a consistent storyline. The work is held together by the refined skill and chemistry between the artists as they address bisexual erasure with comedic and clever interludes. Offering multiple different genres of music, such as Euro Hardcore and Celtic musics, audience members experience the versatility of the artists' skills. By deviating from the traditional cabaret genre, we experience the full range of skills the trio offers while also demonstrating their breadth of knowledge on bisexual history and cross-cultural awareness. Without this, the overall performance would have only scratched the surface, but these particular moments make it as silly as it was meaningful.
Society and the media erases bisexuality and bisexual identity, generally only offering a narrow perspective with limited knowledge of bisexual culture and community. As someone who considers themselves an intellectual and who has questioned the breadth of their sexuality, I found this an uplifting, validating and funny exploration of the bisexual experience. Its appeal is universal - a request to be seen beyond a stereotype and this work successfully seeks to reduce stigma.
Created by: Millicent Sarre, Rosie Russell & Jemma Allen
Event Information
Duration: 60 minutes
Age suitability: MA15+
Event warnings: Contains Sustained Bright Lights, Strong Coarse Language, Sustained Loud Noises, Some Infrequent/Low Pressure Audience Interaction.
Content warnings: Sexual References, Discussions Of Vaginal Health Conditions.
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