AUSTRALIAN PERFORMER Moira Finucane initially wanted to call her show Argentina Gena Catalina's Cantina after one of its characters. 'But that's a bit of a mouthful, so we shortened it to The Saucy Cantina,' she says by phone from Melbourne. Finucane is explaining the brand of cabaret she is bringing to this month's City Fringe Festival.
The Gena character has been part of her stage act since 1995, and is one of The Saucy Cantina's cast of personalities, as is the more recently born Dairy Queen. Finucane plays both, as well as seven others in the cabaret, which is presented as a meal in nine courses. It's not quite a one-person show, as Finucane is joined by sidekick Yumi Tsuchiya, who goes by the stage name of Umi Amare.
'This is a messy show,' says Finucane, referring to its physicality. 'The Dairy Queen, in particular. She pours milk all over the place.'
But potential audiences needn't worry. There's no need for umbrellas, as splashing and the like are kept under control. The only audience participation that takes place is the presentation of a raffle prize mid-show and on entering the theatre, when welcome canapes are handed out by Amare. In Australia, these are usually mini-meat pies but Finucane says she may hand out dim-sum in the Fringe shows. 'The Saucy Cantina is a bit like dim-sum - lots of little very varied tasty ingredients,' she says. 'It's quite a roller-coaster of character style.'
The show revolves around a series of witty, food-linked monologues, some of which are intense, even brutal. The characters are a mix of high-octane and laid-back. The energetic are accompanied by similarly intense thrash rock; the more mellow with suitably melodious accompaniment, including opera.
'The fish course is a complete contrast to many of the other characters,' says Finucane. 'It's presented by a quiet little mermaid. At the opposite extreme is a nasty tale told by a nasty character in a bratwurst course.'
The Saucy Cantina was conceived by Finucane and longtime collaborator Jackie Smith. They have worked together for several years, writing and directing productions that stretch audiences by incorporating topical issues into traditional forms of vaudeville, cabaret and burlesque. The Saucy Cantina falls into a category called Cabaret Bizarre, a new form of theatre that encourages audiences to question social issues.