Interviewing seven buff muscle guys in a hotel room is an unusual experience. You feel the room is a bit crowded, filled with muscles and testostorone.
With their Australian accents, they give lively answers to your questions, at the same time, constantly pumping and moving their pec muscles. In a few hours time, they will take off their T-shirts and jeans, oil their bodies and present themselves in a 90-minute cabaret called Thunder from Downunder.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
It is the first time a striptease performance has been held at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
"It [the performance] will be full of fun, energy, humor and sexiness," the boys said in unison.
Male striptease shows or male cabaret revues are not something new in Taiwan. Four ears ago, Man's Power (now renamed Taiwan Boys) started performing and their shows can be seen occasionally in nightclubs or pubs in Taiwan, even at local religious fairs.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
But a bigger, Las Vegas production, mixed with singing, dancing, theater, stunts and a parody of cult movies, will be the first time for a Taiwan audience.
"So, there will be no dollar-tipping at the show, right?" I asked.
"No, no. Our show is not tacky, not sleazy. The audience can look. They can also touch. But they have to be gentle, to stroke, but not chuck [money]," explained David Eller, the outspoken dancer who usually performs as the main host at the show. He is also good at imitating Elvis Presley on stage.
Instead of giving dollars, the audience is allowed to go up stage after the show and take pictures with the performers
"They can have a chat with us after taking the photos. And we can even have a drink somewhere after the show," Eller said.
"In fact, we are hoping to meet beautiful Taiwanese women here," said blond-haired Noel Oliver.
"And if Taiwanese women are too shy during our show, we will give them drinks and make them relax," Eller jumped in.
The seven performers aged between 23 to 35, have come from Las Vegas, which is where the troupe is regularly based.
Joining the highly reputable group, with 14 years of history, each of the lads have their own special talents. Some have more than 10 years of dance training and the others do surfing, are extreme sports champions, or even talk show hosts. They are not merely guys who go to the gym five times a week
"I was an aerobics trainer for the boys. And one day, they asked me to join the show with them and gradually I became a regular performer at the show," said Oliver, whose special skill is somersaults.
For the four shows in Taipei, they will be performing more than 30 songs, from Nirvana to Justin Timberlake, from Tom Jones to Van Halen and from the Bee Gees to James Brown. And in terms of costumes, there will be Arabian, military officers, Saturday Night Fever and a parody of the movie Blade.
Clearly, it is an attempt to exhaust all the fantasy types for women, a show in which the boys won't reveal themselves all at once. They will give enough entertainment to tease the audience, with a finely timed incremental removal of clothing.
Sounds great.
But to my disappointment, there will be no Outback scenes, no Men At Work nor Savage Garden. What's worse, there's no full monty either.
"The boys will get down to their G-strings only," said Eller.
For a Taiwanese audience, the full monty is probably too much to ask for. The Ministry of Education, the
government unit which gives permits foreign performance groups, had in fact rejected the application of Thunder from Downunder on three prior occasions, two years ago.
The main reason was that the group's sensational performances had triggered some counter-reactions from conservative people 10 years ago.
"After SARS, we find it necessary to have a very entertaining show in Taipei," said DaDa Arts International organizer Melissa Chiao.
It is, however, an interesting contrast, in terms of nudity, between the genders. Two years ago, topless girls from the Paris Lido Cabaret were permitted to perform in Taipei. But for a male show, it takes two years to get permission.
We should ask for more, Taiwan girls!
What: Thunder from Downunder
Where: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
When: Tonight, 7:30pm, tomorrow 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm.
Tickets: NT$500 to NT$2,00 at ERA outlets.
Profiles of the leading men
David Eller
Star Sign: Gemini
Favorite body part: Back
The bald-headed guy who has the girl's wanting to rub his head and make a wish. "Buzzy," as he is known to his friends, loves sushi, good conversation and martial arts. He says he always has two different ways of looking at things, like his sign Gemini, which just may make him mysterious to ladies who like a challenge.
David Hughes
Star Sign: Capricorn
Favorite body part: Back
The blond-haired, blue-eyed performer says, "What you see, is what you get" and hundreds of women have let us know that what he's got is hot.
He is a championship surfer and sports enthusiast. If a girl wants to catch this guy's attention she should know how to cook and be independent -- then David is prepared to treat her like a princess.
Grant Prestwidge
Star Sign: Virgo
Favorite body part: Thighs
A sixth degree black belt holder in the Budo Jitsu style of martial arts, this Aussie loves extreme sports, so look out for him skydiving, bungee-jumping or racing fast cars when he isn't dazzling the ladies in the audience.
With brown hair and hazel eyes, this captivating male has appeared as a stunt actor in several movies and worked with Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean Claude van Damme. He is attracted to a strong women with their own careers.
Menno van Kampen
Star Sign: Libra
Favorite body part: Arms
Menno claims to be "the youngest, oldest member here." A very outgoing guy, Menno loves to see girls having fun at the show. He is one of the Thunder veterans and spends part of the time with the touring show and part with the Las Vegas production.
"I look for a girl who will be a good mother and is smart," he said.
Damian Cage
Star Sign: Scorpio
Favorite body part: Legs
This long haired, good-looking brunet has been performing since he was 14 years old and says, "It's my passion." Blessed with a great voice as well as being a talented dancer, he is touring the world, but hopes one day to "own a set of keys [to his own house], have a dog and a girlfriend."
Meanwhile, he likes to date women who "are themselves" and are not the jealous type. "I'm a loyal guy," he adds.
Noel Oliver
Star Sign: Virgo
Favorite body part: Chest
Excellent at stunts, Oliver's backward somersault and the following smile always generates tides of screams and cheers from the girls.
Blond hair, blue eyes and a defined face have added to his popularity on stage. This former trainer has an easy-going personality and a tender heart.
He likes girls who can truly appreciate his inner self, not just the physical beauty.
Michael Wells
Star Sign: Virgo
Favorite body part: Smile
A personal trainer, Michael said Thunder has the best [male dancers] among the best, which is why he entered the Strip Search Australia contest and was ecstatic when he was chosen.
A perfect date for Michael would be to start with an air balloon ride, have a champagne breakfast, tan on a private beach, go to a spa and follow up with a romantic candlelight dinner in a fine hotel.
There is no certain look a girl has to have; it's just a matter of chemistry. If it's there, "well, great."
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