Trevor Ashley in Fat Swan

Trevor Ashley is the Fat Swan.

Ashley and his superb all dancing, all singing associates delighted Brisbane audiences with a two-act pantomime at The Powerhouse.

Fat Swan, obtusely based on the Natalie Portman’s 2011 film Black Swan, is the adults only version which follows the journey of Natalie Portly, an anorexic ballet dancer and her wish to play the Black Swine in the upcoming production of Swine Lake.

To get the role, her very straight dance instructor, tells her to do some special ‘at home’ exercises to get in touch with her sexuality and dark side needed to play the 2 pig role.

Portly goes mad with dance rage and perfects her debut performance as the Fat Swine. As she does Ashley treats us to a huge dance mega mix showcasing all of our favourite iconic moves from Riverdance, Michael Jackson, and Flash Dance.

Ashley was perfectly naïve as Portly and perfectly sassy and witty as the pantomime host. Tara Morice was divine as the evil stage starved mother of Natalie Portly and Lisa Adam was strong and raunchy as her lesbian character Mila Kunz.

The cabaret style chair and table set up in the main theatre hall worked effectively and juxtaposed the versatile set of high sliding wooden doors. A single pull down bed with mirrors attached to the back was efficiently used to double as Portly’s bedroom when it was set down and the ballet studio when it was pushed upright.

The last costume change was one of the best in the show. Ashley hurriedly changing from a pretty white tutu to latex inspired ballet frock with bright red pig udders running in columns down the front of the leotard.

The show did not miss a beat, with hilarious industry puns, one-liners, simulated sex scenes and shameless promotion for Ashley’s next Brisbane show in 2013. The racy simulated sex scene of Ashley doing his ‘exercises’ alongside Morices’ montage rendition of “The Greatest Love of All“ was one of the shows very funny adults only moments.

Even microphone issues couldn’t dampen the mood in The Powerhouse and couldn’t stop Ashley and his cast mates from giving us a laugh out loud, slap your thigh so hard you leave a mark, performance.

Ashley is such a warm and giving performer on stage that as soon as he appeared in his white swan tutu with full stage makeup and satin dance shoes, you couldn’t help but relax, fall in love and go along for the hilariously naughty ride that is Fat Swan.