This week (Wednesday, May 28), the fabulous Debora Krizak will debut her one woman show CABBAret at Slide Lounge in Sydney. Her first major outing as a cabaret, solo star, the Helpmann nominated actress (A Chorus Line) and star of the Hayes Theatre Company’s smash hit Sweet Charity answered some questions today about her new show for Diva Knows Best.
Though Debora is only a fairly freshly minted star of the musical theatre – she’s proved time and time again with towering performances that she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Read on for her stories on the road as a teenage rock chick, getting discovered in Adelaide, her two new shows and exciting but closely guarded news about her next projects.
In brief – she sexy, she’s glam, she’s hilarious – very much herself – and man but I freaking love Debora Krizak!!!
When did you first start touring as a rock singer and what brought you to an ABBA band?
“I started in bands at the age of 15 while I was still at school. I was ‘discovered’ as part of an education dept incentive to pick selected kids out of school and put them into a musical. The musical was an original called Joey Ackhurst and the vaudeville circus of life. I played the Video Violence Queen. Camp enough to keep my interest and had a rocky edge. I was in black leather with whips and chains. It was Adelaide. The MD asked me to join his duo and from there on I lost my social life and became a gigging student. My break in Adelaide came with Adelaide institution and glam rock band Chunky Custard where I spent most of my 20s touring and taking photos of the Big Pineapple, the big koala and anything else big. I played Miss Candy Bar and dressed like Miss Piggy. The band were huge. It was glam rock but there was an ABBA dress up segment where I played Agnetha and the male lead singer dressed in drag as Frida. Never really gotten over it.”
Agnetha or Frida and why?
“Agnetha when I’m feeling good. Frida when I’ve been cut from an audition and am pissed off. Frida was pretty much the B girl. Agnetha was voted the sexiest bum in the world for gods sakes. Who can top that?”
Favourite and or top 3 ABBA songs of all time?
“I Have a Dream
Fernando
One Man, One Woman”
CABBAret – is this the story of the actual group/your band/something else?
“It’s like a biopic of ABBA with the songs intertwined. It’s the story about how they made it, the relationships and the bust ups. Lyrics in songs became very autobiographical which gives a real insight into some of the personal dramas going on. Then we have the humor. Just the Swedish translations in themselves are a show. We take the piss gently.”
Like me – do you enjoy a re-arranged ABBA song and if so, what direction do you like to take with them?
“I do. But I’ve had to be careful. We do a few interesting arrangements but the rest are just stripped back versions – highlighting the melody and we’ve added acoustic instruments and a cello.”
You’re a rock chick – what’s your ideal music theatre/rock gig?
“Well, I think of myself as a rock chick in essence, but my voice has been far too “musical theatre-ised” nowadays (Lol!). Every now and then I’ll go back to Rock. Usually in an audition when I want to sound the exact opposite. It’s my default.”
Your CABBAret is on at Slide on Wednesday night – what’s next?
“Well I’m in another great show at Slide again on Friday – The Bold and the Musical. Then I’m off to work with the Adelaide symphony orchestra performing the music of Bond movies with Blake Bowden and Guy Noble. Then maybe a return season of a rather special little show (not telling!) and then another musical in 2015 which im very excited about! I’ve barely caught my breath this year.”
What’s your dream music theatre role – literally ANY role!! It can be a guy if you like, someone way too young or way too old, completely to type or completely off type!
“Dream role? I’d love to play Annie? HA!I’d love to play Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Ummm… To be honest, I’m a little illiterate when it comes to musicals. I still struggle with people bursting out into song mid-sentence unless its supposed to be hysterical – then I’m totally into it. Anything comedic, larger than life, yet sad and vulnerable at the same time. Glamorous and ugly, male and female … ??? Twisted the musical. Yep that’s it.”
Xox
See you at the CABBAret!
You can find out more about Debora, CABBAret and Slide Lounge – including tickets to the show this Wednesday night on their website here.
Diva Knows Best
Xoxox
