Red Dust Diva
The Age
Saturday October 22, 2005
REVIEW: Title: Red Dust Diva; Where: Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran; When: Today 4pm and 8pm, tomorrow 5pm; Details: Tickets, $38, phone 8290 7000 or www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
AN IMMIGRANT with gypsy blood, singer Lyndsay Hammond has never been able to stay put in one place for long. During a long career that has had its share of feasts and famines, Hammond is probably best remembered by middle-aged mainstream audiences as one half of the sexy pop sister act from the '80s, Cheetah. After the duo broke up, Hammond carved out a modest existence in the Australian country, blues and roots circuit.Red Dust Diva is a big, bold risk for Hammond and she is slightly panicstricken by the thought of having to "act" herself on stage.Respected playwright and actor Alan Hopgood has written the script based on a life-changing incident that occurred while Hammond was in the outback town of Kalgoorlie in the '90s. Having been abandoned by her manager-boyfriend, the singer found herself stuck with no money, no way out and performing in a bar where the main attraction was not her music but the topless barmaids serving drinks to the eccentric locals.Taking pity on Hammond, the locals literally auctioned her off in a bid to raise some money for her to get back on track. The man who "bought" her is where the story begins.Directed by Don Mackay, with original tunes composed by Hammond, the show also features actors David Bradshaw and Simon Mallory. -- LILY BRAGGE
© 2005 The Age
