FRINGE '04 REVIEW: Generation MTV-ISH

Greeted by girls in deconstructed, brightly layered gears bouncing round on pogo boots handing out slices of summer fruits and jelly lollies the guests at 'Generation MTV' milled around looking for the bar or a vantage point from which to watch the screens and cat walk for signs of action. A long wait and some extremely bored looking faces developed before ISH burst out in full passion. Live vocalists and girls dancing nasty in skimpy clothes vaporised residual frustration and the show launched into everything it could be. No ordinary catwalk parade of nonchalance ISH's clothes clung to gyrating booty dancers as best it could -each garment a living aspect of the performance. Live sequences were interspersed by video montage of Wellingtonians talking about how MTV has influenced local culture and perspective -"it's all about bling, bitches and bikinis" says one dude, "kinda shows girls in a bad light as if all they wanna do is hump each other" another woman laughs.

Humour, dancing and clothes warmed up the crowd but it wasn't til Shiba strode on out and grabbed the room by the throat that things really went wild. Following hot in her wake Diva took the catwalk in full fresh and sexy form, pulling out the dance moves and demanding respect in maximum volumes -'Afronesia' lusciousness unfolding amongst the fufu frocks and sexois ladies. A little under-represented perhaps were our gentle Wellington male folk although trusty Ed did what he could with a blender, bare chest and tropical lei to rectify the situation. Love to Sally of ISH for getting up on stage with the steps and threads and pulling off this extravagant celebration of pop-culture.

ENDS

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