The air inside the Twelfth Night Theatre on Wednesday night was electric. By the time we took our seats as some of the final arrivals, the house was packed to the rafters, buzzing with that rare, high-voltage anticipation that only comes when the audience knows they’re in for something truly “gutsy”.
The “Ass-vengers” Assemble
The chaos kicked off immediately with Samwise Holmes as Deadpool, breaking the fourth wall to tease the crowd about copyright and “Mickey”. It’s a bold move to open a show by poking the Disney bear, but it set the “no holds barred” tone perfectly.
When Deadpool introduced his troupe of performers as the ‘Ass-vengers’, the room erupted. The first to grace the stage was a fat-bellied Thor, whose hilarious, bumbling retrieval of the hammer Mjölnir let everyone know that no hero was safe from a bit of “satiric and risqué” sabotage.
Strobes, Lasers, and Shared Debauchery
What followed was a 90-minute whirlwind of high-production spectacle. The technical craft was on full display, with James Wallis’s lighting design using strobes and lasers to create a cinematic atmosphere that punched well above its weight class for an independent production.
The highlights were fast and frequent:
- Ironwoman (Pony Tony): An erotic, high-energy parody that proved the show’s “risqué” label was well-earned.
- The Stucky Prophecy: A moment of “shared debauchery” between Captain Assman and Princess Bucky that fulfilled the fan-favourite “Stucky” prophecy to the sound of bashful sighs, raucous laughter, and disbelief from the crowd.
- The Spider-Verse: Various incarnations of a very playful Spider-Man kept the energy soaring with the kind of “gravity-defying stunts” Samwise’s company, Action Reaction, is famous for.
The Verdict
The evening concluded with a powerhouse grand finale that saw the entire company return to the stage for a high-physicality dance sequence. The rapturous applause and cheers were a testament to the cast’s incredible athleticism and Samwise’s vision of creating a show that is ‘ambitiously large’ for its size.
MARVELous is more than just a parody; it is a side-splitting night of naughtiness that treats your favourite movie icons with exactly the kind of irreverence they deserve.
Stars: ★★★★½
Verdict: A must-watch for Marvel nerds and cabaret lovers alike. Just leave the kids at home.
Brisbane Season Details
- Tickets: From $79 at marveloustheshow.com.au
- Dates: Wednesday 18 March – Saturday 4 April, 2026
- Times: Wednesday to Sunday 7:30 PM | Saturday Matinee 2:30 PM
- Venue: Twelfth Night Theatre, 4 Cintra Rd, Bowen Hills
