What does this crusty old Nana have in common with this gorgeous young thing? Well, they’re both straight-up, smart, and sassy, and they’re both Andrea Powell. This Squirrel we’re Nuts About the mind behind Ethel Chop, the lovely Andrea Powell…
What’s your full name? Andrea Margaret Powell
Where were you born? In a suburb of Sydney called Cronulla, made famous recently by the riots, but back then it was the setting for the book “Puberty Blues”.
What first inspired you to begin comedy and how did you start out? Well originally I wanted to become a serious actor shmactor. You know Shakespeare, Ibsen, the works. But when it came auditioning for NIDA and VCA and so on, me and the acting schools came to a mutual agreement. They agreed to reject me and I agreed to have my ego crushed like an overripe plum in the fist of Hulk Hogan. After that I accidentally got involved in some live sketch comedy and astounded myself & others by being quite good at it.
You’ve done comedy in a broad range of formats, which format do you most enjoy? I’ll always have a fondness for live because it’s where I started and the way TV is going in this country it’s probably where I’ll end. I also really enjoy doing spots on radio coz I don’t have to dress up and I don’t have to learn it – just read it straight off the computer! Yes I’m lazy.
Do you prefer character comedy or comedy as yourself? I do prefer character driven stuff because that’s my forte and I get more of a kick out of it. Having said that doing stand-up as myself, walking straight out of the audience and not having to costume up is fabulously freeing. Unless it goes badly in which case I want to take my own life. Bad stand up can be unforgivable whereas in character I’m kind of protected behind the mask. And nine times out of ten punters do not recognise me at the bar. I gotta say I like that.
What inspired you to create Ethel? A woman called Wynne Burne, a friend of my Grandmother’s. Wynne (or Windburn as we called her behind her back) was a gravel-voiced (and faced) old crone who had loads of money but dressed like a bag-lady, wore orangefrosted lipstick that bled all over her face and who didn’t have a nice thing to say about anybody or anything. I could never understand why my Grandmother was friends with her, but I’m glad she was because she helped create Ethel. She died a few years back, but in a way she lives on…and on…and on…
Is there a part of you that feels towards youth the way Ethel does? God absolutely. Especially when I come across badly composed “young peoples’ music” (yes I have found myself actually using that term), giant jeans, strappy sandles and midriff tops. Perhaps that’s not so much young people as bad taste. Nevertheless it’s just a matter of time before I start hurling opinions at school children.
How do you prepare to be Ethel? Is there a special routine to get into character? How long does the makeup process take? It takes about 10 minutes to get the make-up and costume on, which I leave to the last moment because it’s uncomfortable. Then I just walk out on stage and begin. I’ve been doing it for so long, I don’t need more than a few seconds to “get into character”. Actually I’ve never understood people who remain in character backstage just because they’re wearing a costume.
Do you think it’s possible to be envious of your own character’s success? Yes. I once received an invitation to attend a charity ball. Well I should say Ethel received the invitation, my name was nowhere on it. That’s when I realised things could be getting out of control. Ethel is definitely more well-known than I am. It’s enviable. But hey, she lives in a bag in the wardrobe. That’s not.
Is there a comedian(s) who inspires you? Who? Gina Riley & Jane Turner are an inspiration. They got knocked back time & time again for Kath & Kim. They stuck to their guns, it finally got made and look at them now! And Judith Lucy has always inspired me. She works harder than anyone I know and no one makes me laugh like she does. She is the Maestro of joke writing. Why she hasn’t got her own TV show is beyond me. Things are so damn conservative and boring in this country it makes me want to scream.
Do you have a favourite festival experience? Yeah deciding not to do a show and watching everyone else freak out about theirs. Ha ha!
When/how do you write material? I write in longhand on my laptop – it’s faster that way and I can edit as I go along. I’ve never been able to write in my head. That type of creation scares the shit out of me and I admire those that can do it, but I’m a total script girl.
Do you rehearse? Yes absolutely. You have to. Well I have to. When I’ve done gigs without rehearsing beforehand I think it’s shown. Someone once told me to try rehearsing in front of a mirror. It sounds dicky but it really works.
What advice would you give to new-comers? Keep at it. And write, like a lot! Don’t rely on old material for ever. Your ‘gold’ will only work for a while and then the audience will smell your boredom for the material and turn. A career in comedy is really hard work and anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves. If all you want is loads of money or to be a big star, then perhaps comedy in this country is not for you.
What’s the best advice given to you on your career? Work hard. I have a tendency to be quite lazy and ride on past success. A good friend who happens also to be a successful comedian told me one day I should pull my finger out. Out of embarrassment I did and then I found it actually worked! Hey, how about that!