THE VAUDEVILLIANS
The Press CLUB at Christ’s College, Christchurch
15/01/2015 - 24/01/2015
World Buskers Festival 2015 | SCIRT
Production Details
Many of you will have never heard of The Vaudevillians, and that’s because they were a big hit long before any of you were born. They used to tour the country performing the vaudeville circuits, hitting every major town in America and wowing them with their original music! In their day, they had it made. They were stars of the stage and EVERYONE wanted to book them in their follies, speak-easies and burlesque reviews.
Unfortunately, one day, tragedy struck. While touring through Antarctica they were victims of a devastating avalanche and were buried under two tons of sleet and snow – instantly freezing them alive. BUT, thanks to your modern day “Global Warming” we have thawed them out and brought them all the way to Christchurch, New Zealand for the very first time.
What we didn’t know and to their shock and chagrin, they discovered that over the years, pop artists of various decades had stolen their music and passed it off as their own. Songs like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” which was originally about the Woman’s Suffragette Movement, and “Drop it Like it’s Hot” which was originally about the invention of the electric iron had all been stolen!
That is why, they are now returning to the stage to perform their music in its original integrity. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard their ragtime, upbeat, toe-tappin’, knee-slappin’ renditions of songs like “Piece of my Heart”, “Bad Romance”, “Paper Planes”, “Harder Better Faster Stronger” and many, many more!
So if you’re a fan of olde timee music, witty banter, and convoluted back-stories, then you’re going to LOVE The Vaudevillians.
15-24 Jan
The Press Club, Christ’s College
8.45pm (9.45 for the performance on 21 Jan)
http://www.worldbuskersfestival.com/the-vaudevillians
Irresistible duo
Review by Lindsay Clark 16th Jan 2015
Dr Dan Von Dandy and his supercharged partner Ms Kitty Witless whip up a potent cocktail in this revue style show. It is cabaret on speed, with dazzling drag and raucous burlesque scorching eyeball and ear. At times it is simply feral.
The artists hail from Seattle and the back-story of their outrageous presentation carries their brand of creative bravado. Acclaimed performers in the roaring twenties, they were buried in an avalanche during a tour of Antarctica. When the thaw of global warming released them, they were shocked to find much of their original material had been poached by the likes of Britney Spears and Janis Joplin. Their quest is to reclaim the integrity of their acts. Certainly it’s a version you’ve never witnessed before and an indelible one.
Debonair Dr Van Dandy – aka Major Scales, aka Richard Andriessen – sets the rhythm with his rampant piano, which itself becomes a stage for the sexy capers of Ms Kitty. Jinkx Monsoon (Jerick Hoffer) is a steamy whirlwind indeed with her startling vocal attack and leggy physicality. This is glamour with a decidedly lusty overtone.
Her renditions of an impressive list of favourite popular numbers have the audience roaring approval and when she advances on us there’s no flinching, even when embarrassing personal questions are asked. That’s a tribute to the smart take this duo has on audience response. Their own interaction is entertaining too, each providing an effective foil for the other with fine comedic timing.
The gags extend to a musical sequel for Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, in a drift towards women’s suffrage (‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’) and self-assertion in general (‘I Will Survive’). In the face of this compelling pair there is no resistance.
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