Mayhem in Milan

In the run up to Milan fashion week, two fashion design rivals, Salvatore and Cronella have left it too late to book their supermodels. Shamelessly exploiting their sidekicks all the way we follow their final creative death rattle as as they prepare their final shows and are forced to ... compromise their artistic ideals.

Upstairs at Rust bar, the set is crowded and you are right in Salvatore's boudoir, busy with his two Ganymede's, flouncing, pouting and bitching right in to the audience. The same set doubles for Vickie's Rising Star talent agency, Cronella's fashion house, bondage bedroom and botox parlour.

The central characters are egotistical and vapid, absurdly parodied stereotypes, every self-obsessed one of whom throws tantrums and sets themselves up for their comeuppance, but bad things happen to them and you relish their downfall from their preposterous deluded pedestals. Their orbiting admirers, gradually wake up to them, and in turn take advantage of their idols, providing a sympathetic and satisfying balance.

Some of the scripting drags, but the plot picks up pace after the characters have been allowed to introduce themselves in the opening quarter of the show. After that the farce and absurdity are allowed to take over, far more effective and far funnier. Throughout the precious supermodels have obscenely bloated-assed admirers rubbing up against them and there are some beautiful moments of black magic, telephone martial arts and beauty salon excess, building up to the climactic anarchy - and mayhem - on the catwalk in fashion week.

Narciccissm, botox, and high camp - bursting at the seams with costume changes, scrag fights and mincing underwear models. If you spend a lot of money on fashion and follow the brand and glamour set - or love to hate them - this is worth redirecting some of your dollars to.

Mayhem in Milan.
13 - 28 April, 8pm

See the Comedy festival website.

Review by David Benady