John Rodgers and Carita Farrer Spencer will be the star performers in Hothouse Theatre’s new production The Fabulous Dame Farrar’s Dazzling Display of Stupendous Acts For the Stage, starting tonight at 8pm. Picture: DAVID THORPE
JUDY Garland, Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan all wrapped into one is a scary thought.
But cabaret performer Carita Farrer Spencer will channel a bit of each diva as she morphs into the glory and disaster of Dame Farrer for a Border audience tonight.
The Fabulous Dame Farrar’s Dazzling Acts of Stupendous Acts for the Stage is HotHouse Theatre’s first show of the year and artistic director Jon Halpin said audiences will watch in horror and delight.
“I just know that this sort of show would go down a treat here,” Mr Halpin said.
“She brings a very clever edge to a very alluring type of comedy.”
As for the dame herself, primping and preening on stage yesterday, preparing for the week’s run of shows, she said she embodied all the hallmarks of a diva.
“The fabulous Dame Farrar is a woman of extensive talent. She’s also a bit of a train wreck, like all of the fabulous divas over the years,” she said.
“It’s a good laugh.”
In a coup for the Border, Dame Farrar will be joined on stage by Cirque du Soleil contortionist Liu Jie.
Australian jazz musician John Rodgers will also share the stage, juggling several instruments while wearing high heels as he plays the Dame’s cross-dressing ex-husband.
Mr Rodgers had to visit an Albury shoe shop to buy a new pair of heels, much to the bewilderment of the store assistant.
“Did you lose a bet did you mate?” was the question from the assistant.
The Fabulous Dame Farrar’s Dazzling Acts of Stupendous Acts for the Stage runs at the HotHouse Theatre from 8pm tonight, tomorrow at 6.30pm, Thursday at 11am and 8pm, Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 4pm and 8pm.
For tickets visit hothousetheatre.com.au or phone (02) 6021 7433.