It’s a relentless fact that Perth constantly loses talent to the big bad eastern states. We watch shining lights grow up and delight, and they make us so darn proud they’re West Australian, so much so we wish we could put them on the flag, in between the swan and the ‘Jack. Then… bang! They disappear over east and their star literally explodes. Sigh. Fortunately for us sometimes – just sometimes – they come back… if only to visit.
Swish Eveready is one such former rising star. Her complete wackiness and lunacy outdid even the nuttiest nut on the scene, with it not uncommon for her to appear at a venue either on crutches, in character, or – heaven forbid – both. Her diligence toward entertaining is commendable and it was a sad day when she left town for Melbourne some six years ago. Luckily for us, she visits. Often. But what makes her next trip home this August all the more exciting is what she’s bringing with her: a drag-bonanza of Las Vegas proportions called Divine Divas!
‘Divine Divas is a two hour long Las Vegas style cabaret show based on the Le Cage shows that have been done over the last 20 years,’ Eveready explained in a rare moment of lucidity, her wig gone and the voice lowered to let through a glimpse of her alter ego, Dean Powell.
‘It’s all diva impersonations, all the time. We have divas from over 40 years ago right through to Liza Minnelli to Dusty Springfield to Cher to Tina Turner, Madonna, Kylie and Anastasia. We even have Pink, Beyonce, Gloria Estefan… all up there are about 20 divas impersonated in the show. We have a cast of 10 drag queens with female back-up dancers. Put simply, it’s a cabaret show with lots of glitz and glamour and it’s very upbeat. Very!
‘Basically? We’ve gone with household names. You can say (a diva’s) names and just about every household will know who they are. And it’s a show for everyone: we’ve made it so teenagers right through to grandparents will love it. Plus we’ve designed it so that every diva who appears in the show is instantly recognisable, if not from their look then from the song they sing.’
When the big bad wolf that was the GFC (that’s Global Financial Crisis in case you’d forgotten) ripped through America, that big proud nation lost lots of its more extravagant ‘culture’, among them the Le Cage shows that had made Las Vegas sparkle. They were the longest running shows on the strip, but sadly were one of the first things to go when the GFC rolled through. After all, why would people need to smile in the face of our century’s worst recession? And yes, that’s a rhetorical question.
But one country’s loss is another country’s gain thanks to a savvy bunch of drag dames. These queens have delightfully decided it’s time Australia once again invokes its inner Priscilla. The result is a marathon of make-up you have to simply behold. Hosted by Miss Paris, it features such drag icons as Tina Sparkelle, Shireen Sequin, Destiny, Maddison Duprey, Aneeta Moi, Anita Mann and Anita Beer (‘Because we-a-need all the Anita’s we can get,’).
‘All of the costumes have been replicated from scratch,’ Eveready confided when asked exactly how much work had gone into the show. ‘Every wig and all the jewellery and every costume has been meticulously reproduced and is flawless. We’ve had pieces made (in Melbourne), in Queensland, in America and Singapore. We watched a lot of DVD’s and YouTube to replicate the outfits. There are more tits and feathers in this show than I’ve worked with in a long time… plus it’s non-stop from beginning to end.’
But those aren’t the only details to watch out for. ‘We’ve scrutinised how these performers perform extensively. The art of mime has been lost a lot in the past few years, and to impersonate someone… well, the art is in the miming,’ she profoundly revealed. ‘You have to portray the song through words and dance, and the only way to do that convincingly is to know your subject, and to know how they move.’
For Eveready, such subjects include Madonna (naturally), Kylie Minogue, Kelly Clarkson and Annastasia. Future incarnations, which are already being batted around, are rumoured to include Annie Lennox, among others. But for now Eveready has seven lead numbers to contend with, plus an audience crammed full of virtually everyone she’s ever known in Perth.
‘I’m feeling overwhelmed,’ Eveready said of the excited reaction from Perth audiences already. ‘The response so far with ticket sales and talking to people and stuff has been through the roof. It’s going to be quite humbling and overwhelming doing the first show here, just because family, friends, work colleagues and everyone I’ve known over the last 15 and 16 years have all pretty much said they will be coming. It’s going to be quite nerve racking but I’m pretty sure as soon as I get that first number out I’ll be fine and there will be no stopping me.’
One would hope not. After all, the entire cast’s stage experience adds up to an impressive 150 years of work and creativity. And for two hours and two hours only, all the magic and mayhem generated from those years of experience will be channelled ‘live’ on stage at Burswood Theatre for the spectacle that is Divine Divas.
But as for Swish? She still (sadly) calls Melbourne home, where she now not only helps produce and run Divine Divas but also owns a little bar on Smith Street called Neverwhere, a mix between The Moon’s eclectic décor and the vibe of The Court Hotel circa ’99. Not bad for a Perth boy who originally trained as a chef. ‘The gift of being able to make people smile when you go to work is something not everyone can say they experience,’ Eveready giggled. ‘I do though.’
And for that reason we’re glad that Swish – and Dean – visit their real home. Often. And we love them more when they bring a whole load of divine divas with them!
Divine Divas appears at Burswood Theatre on August 29. Tickets are available now through www.ticketek.com.au. And watch out for the official after-party later that evening at The Court Hotel.
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