Today in Daily Proposition, Crikey’s guide to what to do at night, we suggest our Sydney readers head down to the Fest.

I was wondering how the Sydney Festival (now in full swing) was going to fill the shoes of La Clique, the sexy burlesque outfit that’s performed at the Famous Spiegeltent (a cabaret venue that’s like a cosy, wood-paneled circus tent) to sell-out crowds for three years running.

Then they hit on the idea of using cult underground singer iOTA, Sydney’s very own answer to Richard O’Brien’s Dr Frank ‘n Furter. (In fact iOTA starred in the role last year). By reuniting him with director Craig Ilott after their sell-out production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch — which propelled the 39-year-old star as a major theatrical drawcard — the Sydney Festival had found their answer.

The result is Smoke & Mirrors which perfectly captures the mood that this 90-year-old entertainment salon has to offer. With iOTA at the helm, Ilott dresses the stage with skits from acrobats, a bearded lady and a four-piece band reminiscent of bowler-hatted droogs.

The magician is especially good and iOTA is astonishing as always but the show isn’t a scratch on the wonder and skill of La Clique. But it is grungy, it is inner-city and it is oh-so-very Sydney. In fact I’ve never seen so many hats worn by an audience at a theatre event.

For many theatre companies spending tonnes on their productions, the success of both Smoke & Mirrors and La Clique proves that if you put on simple and solid entertainment, the masses will come.

The details: Smoke & Mirrors is on at the Famous Spiegeltent (Hyde Park North) as part of the Sydney Festival until 31 January.

The show sold out within minutes of tickets being released. BUT for hardier souls, the Sydney Festival has a tix-for-nix booth in Martin Place where you can get cheapies on the morning of every night’s show. If you’re more of a night owl, just head down to the tent when it opens with free entertainment after 11.30pm most nights.

Tonight Juke Baritone is apparently “performing a bent mix of music, theatre and cabaret that’s shaken into a dark cocktail of trapeze punk and pirate blues mayhem.” If you want to understand the blurb, you’ll need to be there.

Also to look out for at the fest:

  • Dirty Three and Laughing Clowns,  26 January.
  • Rogues Gallery — pirate ballads and sea chanteys with killer line-up including Marianne Faithfull, Peaches and Tim Robbins, 28 January.
  • Candide — rarely-performed musical in which Leonard Bernstein takes on … Voltaire! But lest you think it’s too weighty, the free show in the Domain is tagged as “glitter and be gay”, 30 January.

For the rest, why not bring the music to you, with an album. Charlie Parr’s latest is “really good…” no make that “terrific”, says Crikey’s music blogger Tim Dunlop.