OH! Magazine - Australian Version April 2015 | Page 9

n our fifth issue, back in December
2013 we featured the incredibly
bendy Lucia Carbines who was, at the
time, touring Australia with Spiegelworld’s
EMPIRE stage show. Her incredible
character ‘Miss A in a Bubble’ wooed
audiences, who were transfixed as she
twisted and folded her body into
unimaginable positions while suspended in
a plastic bubble above the stage.

I

This year Spiegelworld is back with yet
another jaw-dropping production, the
raunchy and titalating ABSINTHE. Inspired
by the absinthe-drenched cabarets of late19th Century Europe, the show made
headlines when it opened in Las Vegas in
2011. Since then it has had a permanent
home in the forecourt of Caesars Palace
on The Strip.
For those who aren’t up to speed with the
likes of Spiegelworld, it’s the Cirque du
Soleil for adults: sexy, erotic and highly
suggestive. Its cabaret style entertainment,
infused with seductive burlesque and the
physical strength and precision of
acrobatic circus acts. Even the Spiegeltent
(a Belgian-style wood and canvas tent
decorated with bevelled mirrors and
stained glass), oozes with the promise of
something really unique. Despite seating
700, the venue is an intimate space where
the audience can get up-close and
personal to the performers and what’s
happening on stage.

Polish artists Michal Nowosadko and
Zbigniew Sobierajski perform the Hand
Balance (Duo Creative), in which they
display astonishing strength and grace in a
hand-to-hand balancing act where they
strike indescribable poses using sheer
physical strength, concentration and
willpower. Meeting at the ‘DKS’ Warsaw
Sports Club, the men scooped up a bundle
of medals in competitions for the Men’s
Pair and Men’s Four categories, before
deciding to runaway and ‘join the circus!’.
‘One day we just decided that we would
like to try something new,’ says Michal of
their move into the entertainment industry.
‘We spent a lot of time talking about the
theory of our elements and then we started
to put all our knowledge into practice. With
time, we built trust and we now know that
we can rely on each other.’

www.tonikrasicki.com.au

TONI
KRASICKI

You would think that the jaw-dropping
displays of strength, precision and
impressive flexibility, is surely only
bestowed on a few mere mortals. But the
duo believe otherwise. ‘Anybody can be an
acrobat. But there are some rules that you
always need to follow. For example, there
are many small steps you need to take
before achieving your overall goal. This, as
well as a solid work ethic and an iron will
to succeed.’
Both Michal and Zbigniew are excited
about the Australian tour saying it was
always their dream to visit. ‘We are amazed
about the people and nature in Australia.
So far we can truly say that this is the best
place in the whole world where we have
toured.’
Photos (including cover image)
by Mark Turner.

On average, the acts in ABSINTHE run
from five to ten minutes, plus training and
warm up, so it’s not surprising to hear that
injuries are commonplace. Michal believes
it’s the warm up and the ability of the duo
to remain focused, that prevents any major
disasters. ‘We always try to take care of
ourselves and treat our body very well,’ he
explains. ‘We are passionate about living a
healthy lifestyle, so in many cases we
react much before an injury can occur.
However, every single muscle is involved,
so mostly when we suffer it is just from
overall overtraining.’

Headlined by an international troupe of
gymnasts, burlesque dancers, comics and
actors, the show enthrals even the most
discerning audience member.
Hosts, ‘Gazillionaire’ and sidekick ‘Penny
Pibbets’ are joined by the intoxicating and
seductive vocals of the ‘Green Fairy’.
Several of the outstanding acts currently
featured in the Las Vegas production plus
additional new surprises such as Angie
Sylvia’s dangerous Fire Burlesque act from
Sweden (previously never performed
before in ABSINTHE) make this production
one that should not be missed.
( OH! MAGAZINE ) APRIL 2015

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