Girls Night Out
Image: Gretel Killeen
“The only thing you can expect is that it’s going to be funny,” says Gretel Killeen, host of the upcoming all-female comedy show, Girls Night Out. The program features five very diverse, incredibly talented comedians who will bring irreverence, wit, profundity – “all the emotions and sentiments of a girls night out but up on stage.”
The lineup includes seasoned comic, Wendy Harmer, whom Killeen has known since beginning her own stand-up career in her early 20s.
“Wendy is more traditional and rock solid, just fabulous. She’s got so much life experience and so much dryness and she’s very clever,” says Killeen.
If Harmer is traditional, then at the other end of the spectrum is drag queen, Maxi Shield – unconventional in so many ways. Killeen believes Shield will bring a lovely dimension.
“I think that drag is such a fabulous comic medium. It is so without rules. It’s the ultimate potentially politically incorrect platform, and hilarious.”
Drag comedy is unique – funny, naughty, risqué, much bigger and audacious and “only drag queens can do drag comedy,” says Killeen.
The three remaining performers are on the breaking wave of female comedy. Nikki Britton has gathered laudits and fans for her caricature based act, in particular her very popular “Grandma” character – who may be forced to make an appearance or risk a hostile audience. Lizzy Hoo plays to Asian type with finesse, sass and wry, knowing humour. Gen Fricker, as with almost all comedians, has many strings to her bow: writer, performer, actor, musician. She has a rock-inside-a-snowball delivery style.
The oestrogen charged energy of an all-girl lineup is unlike any other, says Killeen.
“There’s a tremendous bond when women do shows together. And that is fantastic. I think also, they’re often the most exciting and outrageous shows that you go to.”
Dec 8. The Concourse, 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood. $50-$55+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.theconcourse.com.au
By Rita Bratovich
