Not being the types to stay in one lane, a trio of performers put on a true variety show: “Bi-Conic: Bisesexual Variety Extravaganza” on 29 August at Winkel.
Winkel is an interesting venue, one of Old Town’s many basement bars, with a back room for intimate jam sessions, stand-up, and other performances throughout the year. If you can make it down the steep entry steps, it’s an excellent location for short-form shows and informal gatherings, though limited accessibility and bathroom placement are dictated by the layout of the historic building.
Drag artist Triin Sepp opened Bi-Conic as emcee and the first performer with a joyful welcome to everyone in the alphabet mafia, especially the oft-overlooked bisexuals. The stage was incredibly lit.
Following Sepp was Sille-Kadri Simer, who traded Estonian-language stand-up for English-language poetry. Simer shared an incredible piece examining erasure, both social and personal. I’m used to laughing at Simer’s sets, but it was fascinating to see this side, a more solemn reflection on the same experiences I’ve seen explored in her comedy. This shift in tone balanced the wider show, reminding us that humor isn’t the only route to enjoyable entertainment.
Evil Sasha took the stage next, lightening the mood and darkening the humor, with energetic puns and social observations, influenced by porn-as-anthropology. I’ve seen the Belarusian comedian (who lives in Poland but visits Estonia from time to time) perform in shorter showcases. Evil Sasha dares us to laugh at her, but ensures we laugh with her, when she’s given the space to expand on her topics and unfurl her wit—I sincerely hope she’s one of next year’s crop of first shows.
The night closed with the return of our host for an engaging, hilarious round of drag, kinging it up in a raunchy, highly physical performance. Sepp’s comfortable command of the stage and ability to direct energy around a room using their body was a phenomenal way to close a show that fulfilled the promise of its title and more.
Sepp and Simer can be found on Estonian stages throughout the year. Simer is a founding member—and Evil Sasha an occasional guest/opener—of Pussy Jam Comedy. The Pussy Jam Comedy in English show is on 13 September at HUNGR. The Tallinn Fringe Festival runs through 18 September, with artists from around the world performing in Estonian, English, Russian, and gibberish.
Author: Laurie
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