Christa Hughes is bringing her latest show ‘Neurotic Ladyland’ to WA. The highly acclaimed performer will be playing from 15-17 August at His Majesty’s Theatre.
The show ‘Neurotic Ladybird’ follows your hit show ‘Beer Drinking Woman’, how did you come up with the idea for that show? And to gargle beer?
Firstly, the show is called Neurotic Ladyland (not ladybird). I came up with the title based on Jimi Hendrix’s album Electric Ladyland. The show is a celebration of mad and wonderful women. I was inspired by Norma Desmond (Sunset Boulevard), Baby Jane Hudson (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane), Little Edie Beale (Grey Gardens) and post-post modern New York performance artist Fanny Warhol (she is bonkers, but very entertaining). As for my perfect pitch beer gargling, that’s just a party trick gone out of control!
You’ve traveled the world with your work, where is the best place you’ve performed?
On Broadway in New York. I was there with Circus Oz (I was their singing, whip cracking Ring Mistress) and we played there for a month. It was in the New Victory Theatre which was originally a burlesque theatre, then became an adult film cinema (De Niro famously took Sybil Shepard there in Taxi Driver) and now is a good old fashioned, clean fun for all the family theatre.
If you could perform anywhere in the world in front of anyone, where and who would it be?
Well I do a little mash up song where I sing Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust for Life’ lyrics to the tune Lieberherr (as sung by Liza Minnelli in the film Cabaret) which does feature in ‘Neurotic Ladyland’. I would love to perform this for both of them in Minnelli’s New York apartment , or a seedy Berlin bar… both.
How would you explain ‘Neurotic Ladyland’?
Neurotic Ladyland is a musical melodrama blurring the lines between madness and brilliance as the lead heroine leaps from pathos to hilarity with the bat of an enormous eyelash. It’s full of campy high jinx and is cabaret at it’s most absurd.
What surprises have you got up your sleeve for the Perth audience?
Well I can’t really tell you or they won’t be surprises. I do have 2 terrific musicians performing with me (Leonie Cohen on the piano and Jim Dunlop on drums) and I do have some ridiculous costume changes and yes, the rumours are true, there will be an inflatable banana in the show. Rumour also has it that New York performance artist Fanny Warhol will be making a special guest appearance, I cannot confirm or deny this at this point in time. You will just have to come and see!
How was it receiving high acclaim of Australian legend Barry Humphries and Jean Paul Gaultier?
I am a huge fan of Barry Humphries so I felt truly honoured that the creator of Sir Les Patterson & Bazza Mackenzie said, amongst other things, “….best of all, she kind of gives vulgarity a good name”. Considering he just toured the country last year with a sell out show that opened with Les Patterson very audibly suffering from gastritis & diaorreah I felt his comment was particularly flattering. As for JPG, I had to try and teach him how to gargle beer tunefully. He wasn’t very good but was impressed with my skill and hence dubbed me “The Goddess of Gargle”.
What would you say has been the highlight of your career?
Performing sold out shows with my Dad at the Sydney Opera House was a highlight. Watching Fanny Warhol perform her “Mono Vag” for British actor Ralph Fiennes at a private party at a salon in Shanghai was unforgettable and most inspiring.
How was the process of making a record with your father?
It was really quite easy making a record with Dad as we have quite an established, tried and tested repertoire so we knew just what we were doing and how we wanted to it in the recording studio. Touring with him was a blast, even if incredibly trying at times. I think touring with Machine Gun Fellatio for so many years has given me an incredibly high tolerance threshold.
What’s next for you following the show?
Rehab.
Find out more about this show at His Majesty’s Theatre
