Local company HMS Pop Up Productions is putting forth fun, bawdy cabaret shows for all to enjoy.
We spoke to chief creative Melanie Bainbridge about their Fringe World offerings ‘Harry’s Shiraz Cabaret’ and ‘A Saucy Little Secret’.
How did you come to create these projects? Did you set out to pay homage to blues and cabaret music?
With ‘Saucy’ I really set out to pay my respects in writing to five incredible women, whose passion for their music saw them overcome lives of unbelievable hardship. Their individual triumphs and success, against all odds, make them not only inspiring influences on modern music, but also amazing role models for the LGBTQI community I think. Their stories are so powerful, and in all honesty, I didn’t have to do much other than share them, they practically wrote themselves.
‘Harry’s Shiraz Cabaret’ on the other hand was definitely inspired by the music. Harry and I chose some of the funniest novelty tunes from across the ages, all based around the themes of sex, drugs and alcohol (and mainly in a jazz or jazz inspired vein) and I turned those crazy tunes into a bawdy cabaret, showcasing the sublime talents of Harry Deluxe, who is one of Perth’s longest working queer musicians and actors – and, although I could be a little biased here, one of the most powerful and beautiful voices in the business!
What can audiences find at ‘Harry’s Shiraz Cabaret’ that they wouldn’t find elsewhere?
We’ve unearthed some pretty rare tunes in our hunt for ‘hot stuff’, and some of the funniest tunes you’re likely to hear on a Perth stage. Songs like ‘My Girl’s Pussy’ (it’s about a cat, I swear), ‘You Can’t Tell the Difference After Dark’ and ‘I Got Loaded’ feature, played by a seriously amazing live band. And of course watching the lovely Harry get her ‘drunk’ on and stagger across the Connections stage to tease, tickle and tempt her audience is always fun!
We know that Harry Deluxe went on from ‘A Saucy Little Secret’ to hosting her own cabaret show- what else can you tell us about the leading lady?
Well, she’s gorgeous, gay (and my partner), an incredible singer, very funny and, oddly, a little shy. She’s also a trained violinist and currently works as a Place Curator programming a pop-up town square in the City of Canning! She’s been performing for almost 30 years (but don’t dare ask her how old she is) and cut her teeth in classical music and musical theatre on the East Coast before coming to WA to start her own bands. She is also currently working on a new original album which will be released mid year, and we’re working collaboratively on a film project, and producing an incredible dance/theatre project with incredible Perth writer Jed Handmer which will premiere mid year and is another great show for the queer community!
‘A Saucy Little Secret’ features six Perth performers taking on the lives of five iconic blues singers. How did these performers become involved in the project and is there a focus on numbers that the performers identify with?
Bottom line, we asked them! And to our surprise, they all accepted the roles. The numbers in the show are, in the main, attributed to their characters, but funnily enough, all of our incredible performers have said that there are definitely aspects of their characters that they identify with. They have all really fallen in love with their ladies and their stories – which just brings so much depth and passion to the stage. And we have, over the past four years of performing and touring this show, had a few changes to our cast and each has brought their own spirit to their characters. This year we’re welcoming Clay Petera and Shaniqua Vusa to the cast!
What do these iconic performers from the last century have to teach us about sexuality and acceptance today?
So much… so very much… I truly believe that, if five strong women could overcome their less than humble beginnings in a time where difference was feared and was often a driver for violence and persecution, to become powerful, wealthy and respected recording artists; then I think we can overcome anything. They found their community, in 1920’s Harlem, and they forged friendships and found a lifestyle that could support them. That is just part of what inspires me about these women and their stories – they really found their place in the world, and it constantly reminds me that we all have a place in the world, and a community, and that we should let it nourish us, but that we should also make sure we remember to honour and support our community in return. We too can immerse ourselves, share our stories, support our people – whoever we are.
What do you think it is about blues music that remains relevant today?
Ah – the blues – I think it’s the music of the soul. It gives us a perfect vehicle for pouring out our emotions through music, and it keeps us connected with our musical roots. I think it’s ‘storyteller’s’ music too – so for those of us with a penchant for words it really provides a platform for those stories – the trials, the pain, the triumphs – the blues are their backbone.
What excites you about bringing these shows to Fringe World 2015?
You know – we’ve toured Saucy twice to Melbourne and had incredible seasons there, we’ve had three successful runs in Perth at the Ellington Jazz Club and Connections, but we’ve never actually applied to be part of our own Fringe Festival! So when the incredible team at Summerset Arts Festival invited us to be part of their venue matching program for the Sunset Verandah – it was just such a great opportunity that we just had to opt in! So we’re really excited to bring the show to a new venue and to bring it to a new audience.
And the incredible crew at Connections did the very same thing, and invited us to be part of their Fringe program – and of course, after having worked with them last year for both Saucy and Harry’s Shiraz Cabaret and having the absolute best time in the venue – we were completely on board for that too!
And I guess what is really exciting for us about being part of FringeWorld 2015 is simply the opportunity to keep these stories out there and find new audiences for them. And for Harry’s Shiraz Cabaret, being able to connect with our community in the gorgeous Connections Nightclub is definitely the icing on the cake.
‘Harry Shiraz Cabaret’ is at Connections Nightclub on Saturday 31st January from 8pm, ‘A Saucy Little Secret’ is at the Sunset Verandah on February 6th. Â Head to www.fringeworld.com.au for tickets.
