Acting up

I am always asking Courtney Act, Courtney, are you going to release another single? Are you going to sing on the new one? Or yelling to her as she gets into a taxi, Courtney, I love you, I love you, I have all your albums -¦ err, your singles -¦ err, I have your single!

But my favourite greeting would have to be, You look sooo beautiful when you are dressed up, just like a pretty girl. Where are you working today? to which the reply would be, Maxi, I am not working today, I’m dressed as a boy. Oops!

Friday night she told me I had to go and see her one-woman show playing at the Civic Hotel. You’re the type of person who will talk about my show even if you don’t see it, so get your arse down there, I was told in the butchest voice Courtney could muster.

So with my posse -“ Fuchsia and Verushka Darling -“ I arrived early enough to find out the star was running late. I wasn’t surprised as we all know Courtney was an original Divastated cast member, so we got a few bevies under our belt.

The show was truly wonderful -“ I enjoyed every minute to the point where I was beaming with pride. It consisted of Courtney -“ with Tom the pianist -“ talking and singing her way through her life and the experiences that got her where she is today. I know what you are thinking -“ she is only 12 years old -“ but I found myself riveted to my seat, transfixed by every word.

And when she sang, this is where we saw her really shine. The voice that came out nearly blew me off my plastic chair. I could have listened to her sing all night long.

Courtney, you have shown everyone that you are a huge star. Congratulations, girl.

And here is my next point. If we have performers like Courtney and many other amazingly talented showgirls in our community, why would Mardi Gras be importing others to perform at the after-party? Or numerous other Mardi Gras events? Granted it is refreshing to see new faces and performers, but remember, around the world we are considered the best.

We don’t work our arses off for that title just to be snubbed by the people around us. I believe in hiring the best for the job and, if the best grows on the tree in the front yard, why walk down the shops when it’s right there?

Let’s not make all the events on the calendar a shemozzle. People are less likely to pay a hundred dollars to see something if it has been on at Arq or the Shift the night before for $20. Food for thought?