Interview: Amy G Gets Us On The List for CLUB SWIZZLE at Sydney Opera House

We live in uncertain times; today's version of talent is an impressive Instagram following, YouTube killed the show reel, and much of the art forms once adored are phasing out. What does the emerging theatregoing audience know of vaudeville? Or burleycue? Thankfully, we have those answers in amazing stalwarts reinventing and reenergising these classic forms and making them timeless all over again. As a sincerely scintillating ensemble are bubbling away to create the latest in a line of variety-circus-burlesque triumphs, Broadway World got to sit down with Amy G and talk turkey. Well not actual turkey, mostly we talked about Adelaide. And of course, Club Swizzle!

If anyone dare at any time question this woman's commitment to her craft, then they ought to note Amy took an interview with us fresh off a flight from her homeland of the United States. "I've had time to land, drop my stuff off, take a dip in the ocean, eat some sweet potato fries, I'm feeling better than ever!". In all fairness to her, she did concede taking the interview lying down, but when you work as hard as this genius has in the past year, concessions must be made.

Far from her emerging adventures in clitoral-kazoo playing in one of the 30 Most Watched YouTube clips of all time, Amy G is a master of a multitude of variety skills. On top of her talents regarding roller skates, feather headdresses, and ukuleles, Amy G took last year by storm in her show Entershamement. A time referred to fondly and with not a few affectionate anecdotes, one including using a mic stand on stage to discreetly conceal a mistimed bathroom break, Amy shared some insightful challenges. "It's a rather unique product. It's a variety show, but it's a one-person show, it's not just stand-up, it's not just musical so people have a hard time framing it, understanding how to sell it...it's a trick. Knowing who you are and what you offer to any production, that is the key."

So where does one go from there? "I think it's stand-up. I've always had stand-up in my shows, but I feel like it's a bit of a last frontier for me as a performer because it really is the most pared down that a performer can get; there's no costumes, there's no props, there's no plot. It's really just you and your personality."

And does she ever have personality! When asked about where all these skills in performance and production came from, this quick-fire genius came right back with, "Practice, baby, practice! That's the only place skills ever come from!". With a signature laugh and the remarks of a true art-repreneur, she goes on to say "it comes from fascination too, you have to be fascinated to put in the hours to get good at anything, and I've always been fascinated by show biz! I've been doing it for my living since the turn of the century, I was always fascinated with that vaudeville era."

Going deeper into this fascination, Amy notes "My grandfather was an amateur player, and for whatever reason, I don't know why, some people get into the moon, other people get into the stage!", but ultimately "I love the 'yes, and' approach to show biz. I enjoy entertainment that gets in all the corners". Getting into every corner of one's craft is all about Amy, leaning into different acts, characters, tricks, MC, directing, "it's the mixology of it all!"

Mixology and cocktails dominated all talk of Club Swizzle, returning to Sydney Opera House with a flavour sounding not unlike an Old Fashioned. "With a cast like this, that is so multitalented, and everybody's so funny, so full of characters, I think the mix of this cast is going to be truly intoxicating. I don't know what the taste is going to be exactly yet. It is going to be quite unique. It will be funny, stunning, shockingly skilful, it will be sexy and it's going to have a funky beat you can dance to".

Returning of course is the host, Murray Hill, "[he] is really the host, he brings his vintage flavour to this cocktail, and I would say that gets infused. There is a bit of a retro entertainment feel to the show. Of course we're all contemporary performers, and we will bring our moment in time, but it's an old-fashioned feel."

But Amy is quick to remind us that even the cast doesn't know what to expect from this concoction, "your guess is as good as mine! The Australian audience are so receptive to variety in a way that Americans are a little bit more traditional. I don't know what it is, if it's cultural or habit-forming. Brett Haylock has made such a great name for himself, people trust whatever that company's going to come out with. That's a wonderful gift. So having the trust of an audience and venues, that's huge as a solo performer".

Her return to Australia fresh from the Adelaide and Melbourne Cabaret Festivals is most welcome, so if you didn't make it there, or are a long-time fan, this is an unmissable event. A firecracker interview for us, and that's just one act! Grab your seats, your swizzle sticks and perhaps a moist towelette just to be sure!

Tickets available here. Buy them. Seriously it's going to be delicious.

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