Orlando Fringe masquerade of the red death
Masquerade of the Red Death at Orlando Fringe Credit: courtesy

Masquerade of the Red Death leans hard into spectacle, dressing Edgar Allen Poe’s plague tale in glitter, flesh and dark burlesque flair. The costumes, designed by Aurora Fable, are intricate and eye-catching as they glitter through each individual dance of the different women, choreographed by Miss Foxy D’Ville. Directed by Sean Holloway with Fable and D’Ville, the production knows how to build an atmosphere that feels decadent, dangerous and theatrical. 

Because the story is built strictly on dance with little dialogue, unless the narrator is voicing over scenes, the performance lives or dies on its visual impact. During the press preview, I felt that certain stunts and dances landed less cleanly than they should’ve, which slightly weakened the overall polish. Still, the performers are fully committed to world-building, as the ensemble still gives the masquerade a sense of grandeur. The costumes alone give this production all the glitz and glamour it needs. 

The biggest challenge I felt here is conceptual. Poe’s original story is rooted in dread, mortality and the inevitability of death. Translating these themes into a burlesque show isn’t seamless, in my opinion. The result is striking, but the fusion of the source materials makes me feel a bit uneasy, as if the show is still figuring out how far it wants to lean into camp versus tragedy. Still, there’s no denying the craft on display. The sparkling costumes, strong aesthetics, and bold physical movement makes this Masquarade a visually memorable Fringe piece, and a unique adaptation.

Big Bang Boom! Collective (Belle Isle, FL)
Orange Venue, Lowndes Shakespeare Center
60 minutes; 18 and up
Tickets: $15

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

This article appears in Orlando Fringe 2026.