From a shared sovereign and a shaky colonial past, to endless daytime reruns of
The Girl From Oz leaves little doubt that she possesses charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent in abundance.
The show takes the form of a crash course in Australian musical history, with Act giving her unique take on Xanadu, the Bee Gees and the original Kylie: Miss Minogue. Though the show is undeniably a vehicle for Act’s impressive vocal stylings (and boy are they impressive), the many comedic interludes prove her command of an audience is not to be underestimated. Act’s anecdotes range from funny, to filthy, to wistful, never missing a beat. Her persona, somewhere between earnest high school prom queen and drunk aunt at a barbeque, is ever-sweet and endearing, with barbs of wry humour keeping the audience on their toes.
Act’s live vocals are a feat which must be heard to be believed, and The Girl From Oz leaves little doubt that she possesses charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent in abundance. The stand out of the night is inarguably her down-beat, desperate re-working of The Bee Gees’ Staying Alive, which sent eerie shivers through the room with its sheer intensity. The show’s costuming also never disappoints, Act treating the audience to a variety of sparkling catsuits and platform heels. All in all, The Girl from Oz is a show which has plenty for fans of Drag Race to enjoy, but is also the perfect introduction to drag for an audience unfamiliar with the art form.