The air inside the Twelfth Night Theatre on Wednesday night was electric. By the time Isaac and I 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 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 standing ovation was 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
