Bring On the Showgirls!

One of Adelaide’s most glamorous drags, the fabulous Kristina Crème, is hosting a Fringe spectacular, I’m Every Woman. Producer Andrew Bassi spoke to Peter Burdon.

A lot of locals knew there was a new girl in town when Kristina Crème swept away all challengers to take the inaugural Miss Drag South Australia award, but little did they know quite how determined the frothy Miss Crème, and creator Andrew Bassi can be. “So I’ve started a production company,” says Andrew with what sounds like a shy laugh, “Crème de la Crème is the name, and I’m Every Woman will be our third show.”

It’s been a steep learning curve for the enterprising Andrew. “I’ve been performing for years,” he explains, “I was a competitive skater in my teens and I’d done touring, and over the years I got to know the drags around town and the burlesque artists. And I thought ‘I can do that’ and it’s been great fun, and it’s been really good for me to have such a lot of support on the gay scene, and it’s given me the courage to take it out to the wider community. But God it’s hard putting it together! It’s not just making the show itself go on, now it’s my job to get the bums on seats!”

With the show he’s put together, that shouldn’t be a problem. “They’re a great lot of girls,” Andrew says. “Miss Molly’s coming over from Melbourne, and we’ve got Cherry Poppins, who’s incredible, she’s got so much experience and she’s a brilliant performer. Edie Star’s going to be performing, she’s got an absolutely amazing voice and she looks gorgeous, and then there’s me!” Sound like fun, and if the interest you can see on Facebook – search I’m Every Woman! - is anything to go by, tix might be hard to come by.

And the venue, too, has its appeal. The Nexus Cabaret, with its famous bar that’s always open during the show. If you’ve loved the girls at Mars, it’ll be just like home!

Three shows only, 23 February and 1-2 March, and a snip at $20. Book at Fringetix.