By Lin Tan
Thanks to Ethel Chop a.k.a. Andrea Powell (Kath and Kim and Good News Week), I am now questioning whether my vagina is, indeed, retarded. It’s the kind of no-nonsense attitude you’d expect from Chop; an elderly lady who’s so old, she can’t recall which century she was born in. But her age is of no importance, her rants, on the other hand – wonderfully tactless and well timed – are something to laugh about. Not to mention her peculiar taste in fashion, that is, polyester and nylon topped off with a pair of magnifying bifocals.
Which brings me to That Time of the Month, a cohesive brand of wackiness showing every second Tuesday of the month until December in South Melbourne’s The Butterfly Club. Specialising in musical comedy and comedic cabaret, That Time of the Month features some of Melbourne’s established and emerging talent in the cabaret and comedy scene. This September’s line-up included Tina Del Twiste (Wes Snelling) accompanied by guitarist Twist (Stephen Weir), Zara Swindells-Grose, and Andrea Powell. Produced by The Winestain Project’s Goldele Rayment, one can expect a different line-up of acts every month, each testing the waters with their new material. The result is laughter.
Our host that evening was Tina, who opened the show by serenading the audience with some cabaret and jazz tunes, sung alongside Twist’s bluesy guitar rhythms. Decked out in a red-wine coloured velvet ensemble, Tina is what you’d imagine you’d get if you pickled Liza Minnelli in a jar full of champagne and added to that concoction a generous amount of fabulousness. She is a mesmerising singer, having travelled around the world to places like, “Tokyo, Japan and Asia,” and despite being 87 years old (give or take a few years), she managed to inform the audience with facts such as, “billabong is an ice cream.” Tina’s subtle wit and over-the-top flamboyancy was the cornerstone of the night’s overall success.
Tickling the audience next was Zara, who tried out her new comedic material with a few country-influenced tunes like ‘Treat Your Loved Ones Like They’re Dying’. Aside from displaying her knack as a lyrically witty songstress, Zara’s stand-up comedy and equally funny facial expressions were well received inside the comedy clubs.
For those who enjoy a diverse mix of hilarity and some random acts of crowd participation, I suggest That Time of the Month. In fact, make it a whole night’s event, as The Butterfly Club itself is a charming, Alice-in-Wonderland type venue worth hanging around in for its delightful cocktails and quirky interior.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.thebutterflyclub.com.
