Allegro Non Troppo

9 Feb 2010

The Man Behind The Make-up

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As a kid growing up in Bendigo, I used to love watching the Mike Walsh Show. Where else could you see the likes of Dame Edna and Danny La Rue on day-time television?
Back then they were called female impersonators â€“ world class entertainers that were men frocked up as women, with captivating performances and tongues as sharp as razors.
Twenty years ago I moved to Melbourne and my first job was in a retail clothing store in Lygon St. Above the store was Melbourneâ€™s Comedy Club â€“ and that is where I first met one of todayâ€™s guests â€“ he worked in the box office and occasionally, if they ever needed a few extra bums on seats, a couple of tickets would come my way.
For the next few years we became good friends and I watched him grow as a performer. Like the proverbial sponge, he soaked up every opportunity to learn from the vast array of international talent that performed at the Comedy Club â€“ amongst them, The Amazing Jonathon, Rita Rudner, David Strassman and Julian Clary.
Three or four nights a week, I got to see our guest on stage in the Rocky Horror Show alongside Craig MacLauchlan and Red Symonds.
And night after night after night, I would go around to his place to help him transform into Maggie T â€“ wearing a costume I had whipped up.
But bigger things lay ahead and London called.
Now 17 years on his alter ego, Dolly Diamond, has just finished playing to packed houses during Melbourneâ€™s Midsumma Gay & Lesbian Festival.
And with standing ovations each night, he blew the audience away â€“ myself included.
Today, Iâ€™m looking forward to getting re-acquainted with an old friendâ€¦