Melbourne Fringe | YUMMY: Joy Machine

Raucous, outrageous, entertaining, and above all, completely joyful, YUMMY: Joy Machine is one drag variety show that you never knew you needed. Performing as a part of the cultural bonanza that is Melbourne Fringe, witness one of the strongest and most talented cabaret ensembles to grace the stage. Pop classics, KFC dinner packs, naughty ventriloquist dummies, and an ode to Melbourne’s infamous carrot man, are on fodder during the fast-paced 60-minute show.

At the helm is the legendary queen herself Valerie Hex. One of the busiest drag artists in the biz, Valerie Hex founded the internationally acclaimed drag cabaret YUMMY in 2015 and the show has toured over 50 festivals in Australia and around the world, leaving a trail of glitter and winning hearts everywhere it’s gone.

Always unpredictable, outlandish and absurd, Valerie Hex was joined on-stage by the who’s who of drag performance and burlesque, including Velma Vouloir, Aysha Buffet, Bede Nash and Murray Raine. Known as Miss Burlesque Victoria, Velma Vouloir was mesmerising, serving up pure magic for the crowd to enjoy while donning a gorgeous leopard-print costume. Bede Nash gave athleticism and balance while showcasing how easy it can be to navigate multiple hula hoops at once while grinning a smile. Aysha Buffet stole the show with the rendition of The Beauty and The Beast’s ‘Be My Guest’. Murray Raine’s stringed puppets ranged from the peculiar to the downright hilarious; the puppet with a hard-on for singing generated the most laughs. Valerie Hex’s performance as a housewife – including pulling an audience member on stage – and quasi-political story-time reading of Possum Tragic were other highlights. Caution: Scissor Sister’s ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’ and Kylie’s ‘Your Disco Needs You’ will stay in your head long after the show ends.

Yummy: Joy Machine is sexy and brilliant and is on stage at Trades Hall – ETU Ballroom until Saturday 21 October 2023.

YUMMY: Joy Machine – Melbourne Fringe Festival
On stage until Saturday 21 October 2023
Images: attached, credit Joel Deveraux