Emma Powell and Bev Killick are a couple of fun bags who are getting their not-so-grassy-knolls out for stacks of titillating laughs with ‘Busting Out!’ at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. They spoke to Caitlin Crowley about the new show.
Is Busting Out! the sequel to D-Cuppetry?
Emma: Busting Out! is the new, improved, bigger, better, D-Cuppetry!!! More tricks, more songs, more…you know what!
Apart from the obvious anatomical differences, how is Busting Out different to Puppetry of the Penis?
Bev: It’s a theatrical experience. We have a blend of talents and …..huhum…attributes. There’s song, dance and sketch, puppetry, and tit-tricks galore. There’s a heap of surprises the audience would never suspect. Puppetry of the Penis (our good friends) do dick-tricks mostly.
Emma, you are a very experienced stage musical performer including touring overseas with Les Miserables. How on earth did you come up with the idea for a show that incorporates ‘tit-manipulations’?
E: Well, about ten years ago, I discovered the “Sound of One Tit Clapping” as I was running to the phone one day after jumping out of the shower. I heard this ‘clap, clap, clap’ and my left boob was giving me a round of applause. Over the years it was my dressing room trick that I would do whilst touring around Australasia with top notch productions like Mamma Mia! There was always a sense of, “well if the boys can do it so can we”. So I did! It has taken many forms over the last few years and now Busting Out! Is the realisation of my “Little Bitty Titty Show”.
But the show includes far more than just boob tricks, what else can people expect?
B: Boob puppets, Boob jokes, Booberisms, Boob…..magic.
I don’t want to dwell on it, but some of those tit-manipulations make me cringe – how do you prepare for/recover from that kind of performance?
B: I had instruction under the watchful eye of the mistress Boobologist Emma Powell. There are all sorts of secret ways I can’t talk about….but basically you cut your nails and play with your tits.
E: There have been moments when we’ve come back from a bit of a break and have totally forgotten to cut our nails…OUCH. Needless to say we travel with a couple of pairs of nail clippers. I think the best preparation for any tit manip…is breastfeeding. Does wonders!
Bev, you were the first female comedian to entertain the troops when you undertook a tour of duty to the Solomon Islands. Have you thought about touring Busting Out for the troops and getting your girls out for the boys?
B: It’s up to the producer, but good point Caitlin. I think it would be awesome to take our tits to the troops. After being there only recently I can vouch that the boys would have a ‘hard’ time not enjoying the show.
E: I’d love to entertain the troops although might be a bit worried about being a bit “exposed” in a war zone…
D-Cuppetry was surprisingly good, clean fun. Did you have as much fun on stage as we had in the audience?
B: It is so much fun this show. I can’t wait to get em out every night.
E: We love it when the audience is having a great time. We all feed each other I think. We have fun, they have fun, etc etc etc. And our girls love getting out there!
You are touring bigger venues this year, how are you accommodating the larger audiences?
E: Well we love performing in theatres and the show is created for that purpose. And in preparation for the larger venue we have a MASSIVE screen which hangs at the back of the stage and we go from a DD to a ZZ! Truly it is huge. Every little nook and cranny ends up looking like the Grand Canyon.
What sort of audience does your show attract?
E: Everybody from groups of women, to couples, to the grey rinse set (where some of them ought to be receiving a telegram from the Queen very soon). I’m quite surprised by the amazing mix of people we get. But as I say, if you have boobs or know someone who has boobs this show is for them!
I imagine you will both be too busy touring and performing to catch much at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year, but are there any shows you can recommend to the rest of us?
B: I’m in Extreme Blonde and Meat the Musical as a guest so come along to that. Umbrella Revolution always has a crazy mixed bag. Try to support a local act, even if they’re new. Inspire some confidence in them. Plus the tickets are cheaper.
Busting Out! is touring Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland from 28 March – 11 June bookings and tour dates at www.busting-out.com. For Comedy Festival bookings click here