Much aDiva about nothing

Much aDiva about nothing

To be in the line of work I have chosen, you really have to love it and be prepared to learn all the time. I pride myself on having okay microphone skills. Being able to stand in front of a crowded room and talk is very hard and to get them laughing can sometimes be impossible.

I remember a million years ago attending the afternoon session at Annie’s Bar for the Shirley Bassey show. Annie’s Bar was a fabulous little hideaway in Surry Hills that let us unreal girls have a stage. The MC of the evening was Portia Turbo, and each week she would have the audience rolling on the floor. Usually audience members would ask Portia to tell us a story. Then Portia would proceed to tell some ridiculous story about how she made melted cheese toasted sandwiches. We would literally be wetting ourselves for as long as she had our attention. From then on, I thought if I ever got a chance to talk on a microphone I would hope to be as good as Portia.

It is an amazing art to be able to stand there and capture an audience just by yourself on stage with comedy, timing and stage presence. You can soon see the true performers come out.

Last Saturday night, my partner in crime Verushka Darling (star of Friday nights at the Palace Hotel) and I decided to pop into the Palace as we were informed earlier that for one night only the legend of the mic Monique Kelly would be gracing the stage with two male strippers. Normally Monique is at the Palace with her one-woman show on Thursday nights, but to see her with two strippers was too good an opportunity to pass up.

A DIVA Hall of Famer, Monique Kelly was one of the stars of Les Girls and performed with Carlotta and her beautiful boys. Being a true showman, Monique demands everyone’s attention, and can have you hanging on every word as she retells the most outrageous life story.

Because there was a hen’s night in the front row, Verushka and I were banished to the bar at the back of the pub, but this didn’t dampen our experience.

It’s true the Palace has male strippers to entertain the crowd but, to be honest, they were shithouse, and the majority of the audience were just waiting for them to finish so Monique could get back up onstage. Monique told me she was just the tits and arse of the evening and the strippers were the real stars but I have to disagree with the old girl. She had us both in stitches with laughter. It was an amazing night and she truly is a legend.

For all those that want to check Monique out, pop into the Palace Hotel on Thursday nights -“ show times are 9pm, 10pm and 11pm. I promise you will have a fabulous night, filled with many laughs.

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