Dolly Diamond – The Real Queen of Moomba
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Trades Hall, Carlton
Reviewed on April 8, 2015
Earlier this year, the legendary Melba Spiegeltent, located at the Circus Oz headquarters in Collingwood, played host to an energetic two – hour big band musical spectacular.
“Dolly Diamond Under A Big Top” starred one of our leading ladies of the Australian cabaret circuit. Her special guests for the season included emcee Jonathan Duffy, songstress Rachel Dunham, Avery the Owl, drag artist Sexy Galexy, Jeda Cacioli and Sharon Wills, Cameron Thomas and Caleb Garfinkel and their funky little five-piece band, and Dixieland band, Shirraz.
Hot on the high heels of that memorable experience, Diamond is back and a very welcome part of the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
“Dolly Diamond – The Real Queen of Moomba” is 60 delicious minutes of original songs, liquor and laughter. Several of her tunes featured lyrics to Peter Allen’s “I Still Call Australia Home” and Janis Ian’s “Seventeen” cleverly rewritten to suit the occasion. The ever – smiling Sharon Wills backed Diamond beautifully both on vocals and keyboard.
“The Real Queen of Moomba” is jam – packed with stories about Diamond’s migration to the land down under, and how she wants to follow in the exalted footsteps of festival kings and queens such as Jo Pearson, Shane Warne, Kate Ceberano, Harry Kewell, Andrew Gaze, Marina Prior, Denise Drysdale and Bert Newton.
Dressed in a stunning frock that would make Kerri-Anne Kennerley or Lillian Frank proud, it is by virtue of the venue that we get to enjoy Diamond at such close range. Her show is all very one on one and completely in the moment.
Further, The Music Room at The Trades Hall in Carlton is certainly the butt of some terrific jokes.
As Diamond declares right off the bat, she’d never seen a space with so much wood paneling in her life. All that was missing was Burt Reynolds on a bearskin rug. On that basis, the room’s den – like appeal gives her act qualities not unlike a fireside chat with a tipsy favourite relative.
In the spirit of tightly – scripted shows that build in opportunities to play off the crowd’s energy, Diamond doesn’t disappoint. Similar in structure to some of Julian Clary’s brilliant Australian concerts, what made that English performer’s tours so good was the impression that at any moment his routines could fall into a giant chaotic heap. Never knowing quite where Clary’s act was heading next, he appeared to deliberately keep his audiences guessing.
For example, with what seemed like a steady stream of latecomers allowed into the room, being the show it is, Diamond couldn’t resist paying special attention to them. Never once breaking the mood, their tardiness made for some priceless moments.
With many comedy festival experiences, often the question is, would there be some degree of audience interaction or participation? On the night I attended, I got my answer first hand. Within the confines of The Music Room’s intimate space, nobody is safe. Trust me!
Tucked away in a far corner as I was, Diamond not only got me, she also roped a shy nurse named Sharon into the conversation.
What I particularly enjoyed about the moment, was that Diamond has an innate ability to give even the most banal answers to her questions a sense of wicked fun. I won’t repeat what she said (mostly because I would be incriminating myself), but you realise you’ve been zinged only once she has moved on to the next victim. That Diamond can spin any reply on the spot into comedy gold only reinforces her boundless talent.
What a star!
Image Source: Herald Sun