Jasmine Silk
Notice: This performance was advertised as a Work-In-Progress piece but accepted our request to attend as media.
Take a journey through time and legend, joining the fox spirit in their search for a way to exist in a way that is true to who they are in Strange Tails, Fauxx Lores.
In Florian Lim’s (Florian Fauxx) new work in progress solo show, they take you through a journey through history from the perspective of the legendary fox spirit trying to find a way to exist without having to adapt to someone else’s standard in order to be accepted.
Based on selected stories from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling, a collection of Chinese stories that are more than 300 years old, Lim weaves a narrative through select stories as the fox living through the changing ages of the past few centuries, asking if today we can finally just let them be a fox. I loved the way that Lim found the joy in these stories, the moments of freedom, elation, and beauty, whilst driving home a clear point about how that same beauty and joy needs freedom to thrive.
Lim’s multi-disciplinary approach really shines – their ability to smoothly incorporate lip-sync numbers, stunning costume, puppetry and projection into their world was a joy to watch. My favourite section was the raunchy puppet theatre which united the folkloric style of the piece, the magic and nostalgia, with the excellent comedy and the quick wit that Lim brings to every moment. Lim has an excellent instinct for imagery, and they create different eras through their shifting performance styles – such as the increasing incorporation of more technological elements – from puppetry at the start we move into projections as the fox finds that even the modernising world is trying to trap them in boxes that don’t fit.
Some bits were a little rough around the edges, but that’s as should be in a work-in-progress show that’s exploring such a variety of performance styles. I would love to see how the character of the fox continues to develop new layers as Lim continues to experiment with their style and with the tales from the source material.
Lim is a really exciting new artist that you should keep your eye on – seeing how their drag developed over the last season of Top of the Slops and how they bring to life/express their experience of transness, the experience of migrating, and the joy of being free to be Other through these old stories is inspiring to watch.
Next time they’re performing, see them. You’ll be blown away by their imagination.
Recommended Drink: Definitely a cocktail. One with layers. Like a sex on the beach or tequila sunrise. Bright, joyful, visually stunning – that’ll match the show.
Performances of Strange Tails, Fauxx Lores have now concluded at Voila! Theatre Festival 2025.
Lamesha Ruddock
Phoebe Bakker
