I had no plans for the night until I received a last-minute phone call from a friend and colleague visiting Sydney from Darwin. She is actually related to Ben Graetz, the show’s producer and host, and she asked if I’d like to join her for the performance. Although I initially thought I’d be staying in, I quickly changed my mind—and I’m certainly glad I did.
The show, A Night of Rock and Roll with Bogan Villea, was a brilliant showcase of Indigenous drag and Blak pride with a distinct rock edge. Ben, a First Nations LGBTIQ+ performing icon who also goes by the name Miss Ellaneous, performed tonight as his hilarious alter ego, Bogan Villea. The character is a fantastic creation—the lovechild of Barnesy, Farnesy, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It felt like what would’ve happened if AC/DC had ridden their flatbed truck from Lygon Street all the way to Darwin and picked up Divine along the way.
Having lived and worked in Darwin at various periods since the late 1990s, it is a place I really love, so Ben’s performance was packed with authentic Territory flavour that really hit home for me. There were some great references to life up north, from the strippers at the Humpty Doo Tavern to the legendary (and now sadly closed) gay bar, Throb. It was a wonderful celebration of the “bogan” culture Ben grew up with—listening to rock anthems of the 80s and 90s with an Aboriginal mother and a European father.
Unlike typical drag shows, there were no Whitney Houston numbers; instead, we cranked up the volume for everything from INXS and The Divinyls to AC/DC. I told my friend that I knew the words to every single song, and I wasn’t alone—the audience really got involved in the singalongs.
The audience was a diverse mix, many in the 50 to 60+ age bracket, and the atmosphere was electric.
It was a fabulous night out at the Wharf Theatre, and I’m so pleased I traded a quiet night at home for such a great night at the theatre.