Dragged Down Under again

An American drag cabaret duo is Sydney-bound this month. Forget your traditional drag queen shows because Kiki and Herb are bringing a whole new meaning to the art.
The Year Of Magical Drinking Tour is a dark-humoured production that shares the struggles of a washed-up alcoholic whose middle age is in a time long past.
The musical arrangements are less than traditional and Kiki’s voice is a blend of Tom Waits and Ethel Merman. On the night they’ll perform music from the likes of Gnarls Barkley, Amy Winehouse and Jarvis Cocker.
Justin Bond, who plays Kiki, said the show, which alternates between musical numbers and monologues, would be all about sin.
“We will be singing sinful songs,” he said. “We are still rehearsing so things are yet to be finalised, but at the end of the night it’s going to be a surprise.”
Kiki and Herb are a worldwide phenomenon. They have been nominated for a Tony Award for Best Theatrical Event and have also released two albums – Do You Hear What We Hear and Kiki and Herb Will Die For You.
They have worked with the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Deborah Harry, and had strings of sell-out shows around the globe.
“We played in Sydney a couple of years ago and we had a cool crowd and it was pretty mixed – they’re all gorgeous,” Bond said.
“I act a lot drunker than I really am in the show and it’s going to be so much funnier than last time. I have an androgynous bearing. I wouldn’t consider myself a drag queen though – I have too much respect for them to say I’m a drag queen.
“My character’s unique. She’s a 70-year-old who’s smoked enough cigarettes to burn down several tobacco fields, so I don’t think you can describe her voice as a girl’s voice.”
The Year Of Magical Drinking Tour will open at the Sydney Opera House on Friday 26 October. Tickets start at $25. Bookings: 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com.