The cameras follow Joey Arias, the outlandish NYC transvestite emcee of Zumanity; Laetitia Ray, an British ethereal dancer who struggles with having to appear in a burlesque-styled show while having been classically trained in ballet; Alex Castro, the beefy Latin hunk from Miami who is torn between his family and his enticing dance partner; Jonel Earl, the cutesy bride-to-be from Montreal with a flair for exhibitionist behavior; the Spymonkeys, a raunchy vaudevillianesque clown troupe; and Andrew Watson, Zumanity's Creative Director.
Each person has their ups and downs and its really interesting to see how they all interact with one another, sometimes shocking their loved ones while on stage. While this one isn't for the kiddies since it contains a good bit of nudity and language, don't pick this DVD up for an erotic thrill. This documentary is about the people who shape this incredible performance and it does a good job of allowing the public a peek into the private world of Zumanity. Even though some very private moments are shared with viewers, after viewing the extras and seeing the reactions of the performers to the film, they all loved the final product and appreciated the delicacy with which their lives were displayed by director Lewis Cohen.
Extra features include a making-of featurette, which was kind of strange on a making-off DVD, but enjoyable nonetheless. Lovesick's Aural Pleasures was a collection of the music from Zumanity set to stills from the production and there's also a Zumanity preview.
To sum it up, I find it hard to recommend this DVD to anyone who hasn't seen the show as I think its essence will be lost on those not familiar with the amazing production. However, if you've seen Zumanity yourself and want a look behind the red velvet curtain, here's your golden opportunity.
