Theatre’s back baaaaaby! After spending 2020 performing over zoom or to cats in their lounge room, cabaret divas Dolly Diamond and Tash York return to the stage in a double bill of Trash Talk and I’m Not Angry, Just Disappointed at the Butterfly Club — our favourite place in the city for kitsch, cocktails, independent theatre, and LGBTIQA+ friendly vibes.
‘Trash Talk’ is an hour of entertainment by powerhouse performer Tash York featuring songs, anecdotes, and velvet clad backing singers the The Red Red Wines (played by Vivian Fontaine and Matthew Hadgraft). If she didn’t tell you (or you didn’t experience the Melbourne lockdown) you’d have no idea this self-professed cabaret wineo spent the past year performing in her lounge room to an audience of three cats. York is stage ready, belting out parodied songs and inviting audience members to join her as she stuffs 2020 in the bin with toe-tapping numbers about Covid and Karens.
In the second half of the evening, Queen Dolly Diamond is thoroughly at home on stage sashaying in sequins, flirting with audience members, and leading a Copacabana sing-along like a drunken aunt at karaoke (and I mean that in a good way.) She opens her show with the premise it’s midsummer 2020 and everything is coming up roses. Then her life starts to go sideways.
The double-bill is a feel-good night of music, comedy, and glitter and the audience warmly welcomed both performers the night we attended.
Just a word of warning: this is a full night out. Tash York’s ‘Trash Talk’ starts at 7pm and runs for about an hour, then Dolly doesn’t get on stage until 8:45pm. Tickets are also on the high side for indy-theatre. But the upshot is you’re supporting local artists and a long intermission means there’s more time for drinks at the kitsch cocktail bar.
– Jenny
Jenny S is an event addict. When she not in lockdown, you can find her attending live shows, sampling the latest craft beer or sipping a creative cocktail.
The ‘Trash Talk’ and ‘I’m Not Angry, Just Disappointed’ Double Bill runs 25-30 January at The Butterfly Club, 7:00pm. (Early arrival for contact tracing recommended).
5 Carson Place, Melbourne 3000 (off Little Collins St).
Buy Tickets Now.
The venue is not accessible.
