Festive frustrations

Andrew Benson has had some surreal moments preparing for alter ego Aunty Mavis’s first Christmas show.

Like the recent conversation about the costumes for the festive spectacular.

I said to someone the other day -˜think Chrisco hamper lady’ and they took that to be something completely different, Benson laughs.

When I said -˜Mavis is definitely into Chrisco’ they said -˜really?’

I think that’s also part of the show now too.

A senior citizen and former bowling club president, Aunty Mavis has won fans with her maternal charms during regular Mardi Gras festival appearances.

This week she is revealing a more aggressive side, taking aim at everything from lacklustre musical theatre to federal politicians in her Christmas show Stocking Stuffer, Turkey Plucker.

My musical director Bev Kennedy and I were talking about how perverse Christmas is, Benson says.

The more I thought about it, the more I realised there was something to be said about Christmas.

Mavis by definition is quite a conservative lady, but she does take ready aim at the current government, both state and federal, and that absurdity at Christmas time that we have to love all mankind.

On one day of the year we have this tolerance that’s no longer there on Boxing Day.

For those curious about the source of Mavis’s frustration, glimpses into her past at this week’s show should prove instructive.

There are a couple of flashbacks to when Mavis was a child and her fascination with talking with elves and the death of a certain elf. I think she may have killed the elf, Benson explains.

She also has an affair with Santa Claus and calls him -˜daddy’.

Stocking Stuffer, Turkey Plucker is on 7, 8 and 9 December at the Statement Cabaret Lounge, 49 Market St, Sydney. Book at the Ticketmaster website.