“Fighting the Power never tasted so sweet.”

Cabaret / Political Theatre Show Hot Brown Honey throws down a thrilling platter of subversive spectacles that boldly smash, taunt and challenge stereotypes of women of colour.  With middle finger raised, and a relentless quick wit, the show boosts a multi-talented cast of women who stride into the limelight (well, led light really) delivering empowered and riotous perspectives on old racial stereotypes of indigenous women from Australia, Aotearoa, Samoa, Indonesia and Tonga.  Not only is the show entertaining and good fun, it is sexy and clever.  Hard to fault, this Feel-Good-Party-Show is a must see in Auckland’s Pride Festival this year. 

“Rise up”. “Stand up”. “Make some Noise”.  Phrases and signatures of political movements are drawn on to stir a mood of subversion and rebellion in the politically-charged showcase.  Also quoting from street dance styles that originate from Black American cultures, such as Hip Hop and Vogue, the show combine diverse genres of performance including slam poetry, comedy, circus, striptease and reinvented pop music, creating a whirlpool of resourcefulness, creativity and civil empowerment. 

I am particularly moved and haunted by the presence of dancer Ghenoa Gela: Special Guest and Understudy to Juanita Duncan. A proud Proud Torres Strait Islander woman, she dances a ripping and stripping back of the oppressive forces of white colonial Australia.  

The touring show strings along multiple glowing reviews, awards, and an impressive reputation for selling tickets and merchandise. The embodiment of “unapologetically fierce”, director Lisa Fa’alafi says of the show, “We’re highlighting the lack of diversity on our stages, pages and screens by making a show like this, but we’re also celebrating the fact we are creating this space for ourselves” (www.smh.au). 

Fa’alafi performs alongside the impressive cast: Kim ‘Busty Beatz’ Bowers (Queen Bee/MC), Beat Box extraordinaire Materharere Hope ‘Hope One’ Haami, Juanita Duncan, Singer Ofa Fotu and Circus artist Crystal Stacey.  

Hot Brown Honey raises the mana and authority of each performer and their personal stories.  Taking control of how they look, and reorienting their position to center stage, these women’s narratives defy colonizing perceptions and assumptions.  Issues of racial profiling, privilege, and the idea of the women of colour as ‘exotic’, or the assumption of being sexually available to men, are challenged by each of the pieces, often drawing on humour to intensify or disperse messages.  References to pop culture are made in intelligent ways, where a tip of the hat to Oprah Winfrey and pop music superstars layer new meanings from indigenous perspectives.   

What Hot Brown Honey does is a BIG DEAL; the existence of this show is a BIG DEAL.

I leave invigorated.  I’ve surprised myself by delighting in the big production values, the polished production design and bling, the slick performances, and well-developed material.   An all-round YESS, thigh-slapping, yee haa, good time. 

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