Funny, sexy and feminist all at the same time, Australian cabaret star Meow Meow (Melissa Madden Gray) delivers wonderful frivolity.
Hans Christian Andersen's original 1837 Little Mermaid (with its weird and decidedly un-Disney ending) provides the styling and themes for Meow Meow's search for love in the depths of her own sub-conscious ("there's nothing here - I'm so shallow!").
How far do we have to change ourselves for, and how much can we expect from, a potential amour? Do we have to stop snoring? Hobble instead of swim? Turns out the fetish of restricted female mobility takes many forms, not only fishtails and high heels (there's a wink to Helmut Newton).
Through a string of songs including Amanda Palmer and Radiohead, the effortless ease of Meow Meow's alto voice is expertly matched by the Siren Effect Orchestra in their captain coats (accordion, double bass etc. sousaphone!). In contrast, Meow Meow's physical acrobatics - a fishnet, naturally - are played for laughs; they're hectic rather than graceful, and at one point she looks like she's in an adult-size jolly jumper.
Innuendo and an adult doll are also there for comic effect; the closest the show comes to raunchy is Meow Meow crowd-surfing in sequin-seamed fishnet stockings (the costumes are mostly sombre-coloured but there's glitter galore).
