Tina C: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word. Created by Christopher Green. Performed by Tina C with Auriel Andrew OAM and James Henry. Presented by Malthouse Theatre, Christopher Green, Julia Holt and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Beckett Theatre, March 21 – April 14.
The Tina C: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word is classy, character driven, comedy that is not quite stand up, not quite cabaret and not quite music theatre. But Les Girls eat your hearts out – Tina C is the most beautiful (Country and Western) Drag Queen – real eye candy. Dressed in skimpy shorts and blouse that are made of fabric with an indigenous artwork print she presents as a stunning Barbie Doll with beautiful legs that ‘go up to heaven’.
During the shows eighty minutes she tells anecdotes, lectures, sings and generally gives us not particularly well informed, opinions and advice about white Australia’s relationship with its indigenous (pronounced indiginous) brothers and sisters. She parodies American evangelism, expounding pretty ‘dicky’ theories with lashings of ‘love and understanding’!
Tina C is smart and sassy, so bright in fact, she is able to make sense of the complex writing of British theatre maker Christopher Green. She is Christopher Green’s alter ego.
As she presents her show with two indigenous artists James Henry (Jimmy Little’s grandson) and Auriel Andrew (pictured), her plea for respecting the Aboriginal races of this nation is, kind of weirdly, authenticated.
Included is a most touching rendition of Bob Randell’s song Brown Skin Baby performed by Auriel Andrew. This is incongruous with the superficiality of the whole and a real pace changer, but a highlight.
Complex, sharp, clever, witty, and a little bit brittle and caustic, there is so much about this performance that is politically unsound and potentially offensive – but it is ultimately great fun and full of laughs.
Enjoy if you can get tickets!
Suzanne Sandow
(For Stage Whispers)
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