Cabaret performer Anya Anastasia has been hailed as a major talent. She’s performed in cities across the globe and now’s she heading to Fringe World. Her cake-a-licious satirical show ‘Tore e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death’ will take up residence at Connections.
Your show’s title references cakes, which immediately made us hungry – what’s your favourite cake, and what makes it great?
I love most all cake, and recently have enjoyed the excuse that eating cake is doing research. (I’ll write my next show about whiskey?)
I love chocolate torte, I love tiramisu, I love any cake made by a Nonna. Supermarket cake is the stuff of nightmares – if I ever smell a caramel flavoured sponge cake I will vomit. I had a bad experience recently with one being smashed (rather more violently than expected) in my face … fake caramel smell still plagues my nightmares.
You play several characters in your show, who will we meet?
You’ll meet a wildly hedonistic party animal – Marie Antoinette, a very cheesy and sleazy she-devil, even a very grim Grim Reaper makes an appearance. There are a couple more, (won’t ruin all the surprises) but what you may find hard to believe is that I don’t leave the stage… These transformations unfold as if by magic before your very boggling eyes.
Which character has been the most difficult to bring to life?
I found Marie Antoinette couldn’t be brought to life. In the end I decided to leave her dead and play her as a ghost. It works much better. That ghostly undead confusion as she tries to interpret her situation adds a lot to her wonderfully unstable character.
Why are ukuleles wonderful?
SO versatile. Oh the things you can do with a ukulele. I have one song where it sounds almost like a harp, plucking little delicate notes that hang in the air, and another where I can get a very full sound with percussive effects, for a very driving and punchy song.
And they are so portable. I bring one just about everywhere.
What will people experience if they come to your show?
Non-stop laugh out loud punchlines, some tricks I guarantee they have never seen before, some very pleasing slightly unconventional vocal talents, an electric live band and gasp at some breathtaking visual moments.
Torte e Mort: Songs of Cake and Death is playing at Connections Nightclub 8pm on January 27, 29-31.
More details at fringeworld.com.au
Graeme Watson
