The promotional poster for Selina Jenkins’s Introducing Beau Heartbreaker features a quote from “The Age” about her “gender-queer” character. While the newspaper was being positive, Beau’s far less political and much more loveable than those words would suggest.
Dressed in a flannelette shirt, jeans and desert boots, Selina gave the audience an entertaining and respectful look at a country boy with a passion for cows, booze and his mother. If it wasn’t for lines like “I’m a straight guy with a bent smile”, and Selina’s knowing smile, the fact that she’s decked out in drag wouldn’t have mattered one iota.
Although her wonderful bluesy singing voice could do with a little light and shade, the tunes were accomplished and contained some amusing patter.
This artist understands the importance of comic timing.
The songs about adoring VB (“I love a tinny”), the woman whose name was possibly Julie and the bloke next door with the green garden even though there’s a drought were particularly engaging.
Beau was assisted musically and comically by Craig, his cousin, who was monosyllabic and nowhere near as effeminate as we were told he was, which indicates Beau might’ve been projecting somewhat. Without arguing that the production should’ve starred a double act, the relationship between the lads could’ve been developed more as it didn’t feel as if it really gelled until near the end of proceedings.
Don’t be fooled into thinking “Introducing Beau Heartbreaker” is just a show for the GLBTQ community (not that there’s anything wrong with that) because Selina Jenkins has created an alter-ego with broad appeal.
Introducing Beau Heartbreaker will be playing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) until the 29th of April. For booking details, check the “MICF website”:http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2007/show/155/.