FESTIVAL BAR AT THE SUPPER CLUB

A bevy of fabulously camp personalities will hit the Supper Club for Mardi Gras 2009. First up Trevor Ashley presents 'Mardi Gras Showqueen', featuring Phil Scott, one of our favourite entertainers; Nick Christo returning with his tribute to legendary entertainer Frances Faye; and cabaret legend Toni Lamond.

Also make sure your check out Bob Downe's 'Retro Gras', featuring special guests including Cindy Pastel, David Campbell, Shauna Jensen and Paul Capsis, and the wonderful Kaki King, who is set to wreak acoustic havoc after touring and recording the none other than The Foo Fighters this year.
Garrett Bithell

It's 2pm on an unseasonably cold, rainy Sunday afternoon. But the atmosphere is sizzling hot inside Oxford Street club Slide, where Maria Venuti is struggling to fit her... how shall we say?... ginormous knockers into a tight, red, low-cut frock, ahead of an SX photo shoot.

Mama Maria, expert that she is in such matters, soon has the aforementioned knockers (aka her 'Venutis') firmly ensconced and is ready for action.

"This is going to be faaabulous daaaaarling!" she shrieks, recalling Jeanne Little.

Then Mark Trevorrow skulks in, perhaps a trifle annoyed at having given up his Sunday afternoon. But shortly, his alter ego Bob Downe emerges from the dressing room, flashing his famous pearly whites, readier for his close up than Norma Desmond ever was.

Singer/actor/producer Trevor Ashley, meanwhile, is surveying the scene behind dark, oversized glasses, doling out droll commentary and camp quips as photographer extraordinaire John McCrae sets up his gear, which could double as lunar landing equipment.

The camp Sunday shenanigans that follow are a lot of fun. But they also have a more serious side – Maria, Mark and Trevor are there to help promote a cause all three firmly believe in; the trio are leading lights in a cavalcade of stars who will assemble at Star City Casino this Sunday night for a tribute concert to legendary Australian cabaret artist Peter Allen, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1992.

The event, Australia's first official World AIDS Day concert, is the brainchild of Ashley, who has also enlisted the likes of Todd McKenney, Rhonda Burchmore, Simon Gallagher, the entire cast of Priscilla: The Musical and the 30-piece Sydney International Orchestra, for the event, which will benefit ACON, and help the organisation continue its valuable work around HIV/AIDS.

"The idea is to support ACON, but also give back to the concertgoers in the form of a spectacular show," says producer Ashley.

Allen's music was a natural choice for the concert, he says, as Allen was not only a HIV-positive Australian entertainer, but his name is synonymous with the words 'spectacular show'.

"He was outrageous and crazy, and just the most talented man," recalls Venuti, whose association with Allen extends back to the sunrise of his career, to his Bandstand days.

Venuti will be performing several Allen tunes including, appropriately enough, 'Knockers', and 'The More I See You'.

"He gave me a wonderful keepsake at his very last show, at the Sydney Hilton – and that was the music to 'Knockers', which was a song from his Broadway show, Legs Diamond," she says.

"Darling, if I bring a smidgen of his joie de vivre to the stage, I'll be sensational!" she enthuses.

Somehow, I don't think she'll have any trouble.

Bob Downe, meanwhile, is bringing something very different to the table: "A plate of pikelets and a family-size bottle of Passiona," he says.

The favourite son of Murwillumbah in northern NSW (not too far from Allen's birthplace of Tenterfield) will also find time to slip in a performance of 'I Go To Rio', one Allen's many notable hits, which include 'I Still Call Australia Home' and 'Tenterfield Saddler.

"Darl, I live to do benefit concerts," Bob crows. "I'm looking forward to it immensely! Hanging out and catching up with all those show folk – that's my payment!"

Todd McKenney, who couldn't make it to Slide due to a Priscilla: The Musical matinee, is no stranger to performing Peter Allen songs.

Though he's one of Australia's busiest, most in-demand entertainers, currently holding down three showbiz jobs (the role of Tick/Mitzi in Priscilla: The Musical, breakfast radio host on Mix 106.5 FM, and judge on Channel Seven's Dancing With The Stars), McKenney is perhaps still best known for his long-running stint as Peter Allen in the original production of The Boy From Oz musical, which played to 1.2 million people over 766 performances in the late 90s.

"Yeah, I've had a bit of experience playing Peter Allen," McKenney chuckles, speaking to SX by phone.

The musical subsequently went all the way to Broadway, where Hugh Jackman played Allen – but not quite as well as McKenney, according to popular consensus among those who saw both productions. Sunday night will be a welcome opportunity for Sydneysiders to once again see the role played by the man who made it famous.

"I'm really looking forward to getting those dancing shoes on, with those outfits and the maracas again," says McKenney, who reports that "playing Peter Allen is like riding a bike".

"I can still get straight back into it, as though no time has passed since The Boy From Oz. I'm going to have a lot of fun!"

For Rhonda Burchmore, however, Sunday night's concert will be somewhat more poignant.

"I'll be performing a song called 'I Could Marry The Rain'," she tells SX, "which is one of Peter Allen's lesser-known songs, recorded not long before he died."

"It's such a beautiful song, and actually my father died earlier this year, and it was his favourite song – so it's going to have a double meaning for me.

"I'm performing it for Peter Allen and all the people who have succumbed to AIDS, and I'm also performing it for Dad."

But being a Peter Allen tribute concert, there'll be a flashy side to Rhonda's appearance too, including a show-stopping collaborative number.

"And I'm very excited about my outfit and the jewellery I'm going to wear! Let's just say that Peter would be very proud of my bling," she laughs.

Ashley, too, says the show will "bring on the bling in true Peter Allen style".

"We've got a sensational line-up. It's sensational that we're going to have a show with talent the calibre of Todd McKenney, Maria Venuti, Rhonda Burchmore and the whole cast of Priscilla: The Musical for our inaugural World AIDS Day concert," he adds.

But the best thing about it?

"Sadly, a lot of people never got to experience the magic of Peter Allen in concert. I'm one of them. But this Sunday is the closet that you're ever going to get, and I don't think an opportunity like this will come again."

And who knows? Perhaps Peter himself will be there.

At the very least, he'll be there in spirit.

Australia's inaugural World AIDS Days Concert, a tribute to Peter Allen, will be held this at 7.30pm this Sunday, November 30 at the Star Theatre, Star City Casino, Pyrmont. Tickets $70 A Reserve, $60 B Reserve (concessions available) can be purchased from Ticketmaster on 1300 795 267 or at www.ticketmaster.com.au
Peter Hackney

A glittering tribute to late, gay Australian entertainer Peter Allen, the ACON-organised concert will be held at the Star Theatre, Star City Casino, on Sunday, November 30 – the eve of World AIDS Day.

Todd McKenney, the original star of The Boy from Oz musical, will head a diverse line-up including his Priscilla: The Musical co-star Tony Sheldon, and Trevor Ashley, Bob Downe, Shauna Jensen, Colette Mann, Sam Moran (the 'Yellow Wiggle'), and Phil Scott.

Other performers will be announced in the coming weeks, however ACON could not confirm rumours that Olivia Newtown-John and Marcia Hines would be among them.

Concert creator Trevor Ashley will direct the show, Craig Renshaw has signed on as musical director, while Cameron Mitchell has been confirmed as choreographer.

The 30-piece Sydney International Orchestra has donated its services for the event.

ACON Events Coordinator David Wilkins said Peter Allen was a natural choice for Sydney's inaugural World AIDS Day Concert.

"Peter Allen was a truly great Australian who sadly passed away from an AIDS-related illness in 1992," he said.

"He was a fabulous performer [and] amazing songwriter. His songs have been performed by many talented artists over the years, including Olivia Newton-John, Frank Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick and Peggy Lee. It'll be a great show."

Tickets and further information can be sourced from http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ and www.acon.org.au/worldaidsdayconcert
Peter Hackney

All performing with the 30-piece SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ORCHESTRA

WHERE: Star Theatre, Star City Casino
WHEN: Sunday 30 November 2008 at 7:30pm
COST: $70 A Reserve, $60 B Reserve (concessions available)

Tickets available through Ticketmaster on 1300 795 267 or www.ticketmaster.com.au

Not surprising he was in such fine fettle, fresh, as he was, from his triumph at Beijing, where he achieved bronze (only just pipped by Richard Simmons), in the 100m Run Like A Girl.

His scintillating stagecraft, bolstered by a wardrobe Kel would kill for, could easily result in a star blinded by his own luminosity, yet he seeks not to blow his own trumpet. Indeed, he's the first to point to the anatomical incorrectness & impossibility of such, not withstanding a good 6 months of pilates.

This, after all, is the same lithe, blithe althletic man-boy who has earned such kudos on Celebrity Weakest Link & who has come to the intellectual fore as Australia's second-brainiest comedian. While not quite as famous as, say, Liza Minelli (who, fittingly had a period of a thousand years named after her), Downe delivers unbridled entertainment, in spades.

From Gary Glitter's Rock 'n' Roll, to The Trammps' Disco Inferno; Earth, Wind & Fire's Boogie Wonderland, to the big O's Pretty Woman, Downe is the ultimate upper, the high-camp king of kitsch; as quintessentially so as Dame Edna, lamingtons or porcelain ducks flying up a fibro wall.

There were doyens of Sydney's prosperous drag scene on hand, to comedically conspire and thank God for Chris, who (somehow) slept through almost the entire show, despite being pressed up against the stage and victim to countless taunts.

There was a hint of poignant sadness, as Downe reflected on the loneliness of solo performance (there's noone to push your stool in). If you're getting the feeling this was AO, unexpurgated Downe-'n'-dirty version, as against the primetime, dumbed-Downe diet variety, you're on the money. And all the funnier for it! Mind you, not all his act, by any means, relies on humour centred around dancing in the dark: there's a conscience routine on (ah, diehard) smokers ('a dying breed'), for instance.

This is the sort of show that can leave you feeling like you've done a hundred situps, such is the gut-busting laughter it incites. And it came with the value-added bonuses of a tight and typically sharpened support set, from the wonderfully endowed Jackie Loeb, who not only has a ready-to-roll stock of pointedly arsey one-liners ('I'm Jewish, but I've been told I've very low-income features', an ingeniously pre-emptive auto-strike against any low-flying anti-Semitic remarks), but whose Cher, among other divas, you have to hear. Big Patty, as head of security and Bob's mum, Ida, lifelong president of the Murwillumbah CWA, made the evening a triple treat. Think Priscilla, without the costumes and pyrotechnics.

20 Golden Greats
Bob Downe

Venue: Club Swans, Kings Cross
Date: Friday October 17
Time: Doors open 8.00pm
Tickets: $33.00
Bookings: 8061 2320 or ticketek
Visit: http://www.clubswans.com.au/
Lloyd Bradford (Brad) Syke

This inteview was pretty special, however. It really came together well. I finally worked out, in my head, who 'Bob Downe' was, even though I was interviewing Mark Trevorrow again. I found, in fact, interviewing Mark Trevorrow several times subsequently, that my image of Bob Downe became clearer and clearer, as Mark Trevorrow became more and more distinct as a personality apart from Bob. Indeed, I suspect Trevorrow was finding Bob Downe a more defined character as he continued to define himself more boldly as a separate but no less public, performing entity.

For some reason I found it helpful to compare and contrast, to a certain degree, Trevorrow's Bob Downe with Barry Humphries's characters. Interestingly, Humphries was my first real interview, ever, for Honi Soit, the newspaper of the University of Sydney, produced by the Student Representative Council. It was a breakthrough for me. The Bob Downe interview below was my first interview for Revolver, a free entertainment rag. I vividly recall trying not to talk too loudly in my office – the Publications Department (ie my cluttered office) of Cranbrook School (for that was my 'real' job, Publications Co-ordinator at Cranbrook School) – as I conducted the interview sans recording equipment or speakerphone, furtively scrawling barely legible notes on a legal pad. As soon as the school newspaper, The Cranbrook Chronicle was being printed, I'd feverishly complete this interview, setting the standard: every week for the next five years (failing to meet the odd deadline here or there; that is to say, occasionally being so late that no piece ran; mostly being late but still in time for one to be published) I presented a different comedy-related interview. In addition to being a crash course in stand-up for me, I felt I was also educating an audience, and all the while, helping educate up-and-coming comics. If Sydney's stand-up scene eventually got the jump on Melbourne, it was because, for a while there, there were people who had a clear idea what they were doing, why they were doing it, how it ought to be done, who for, and where it all fit in, in the greater scheme of things. Over five years, I pretty much found my voice and an ability to interview.

I have interviewed Trevorrow a number of times since this was written in 1998 (it was 1998, so forgive the dated political outlook; who was to know Kim Beazley's best impression of a Statesman would be in conceding defeat in an election he should have had no trouble winning, and handing over leadership of his party, in 2001?). Trevorrow continues to be an interested and engaging interview subject – responsible for increasingly involved and ever-more-funny live shows. And for the record, I've watched him go from taking the piss out of the Tony Bartuccio Dancers, to working with Tony Bartuccio. I hope to eventually dig out later interviews where Trevorrow discusses all of this.

For more info on Bob Downe and Mark Trevorrow, in his own words, plus updates on tours and performances, and access to heaps and heaps of clips, check out his YouTube page. Meanwhile, here's the interview.

Bob Downe for Revolver

"You're talking to Mark Trevorrow rather than Bob Downe," a jet-lagged voice announces. "Did my manager explain it to you? Bob Downe's not a real person."

"What?" I demand, worried. "I suppose you're going to tell me Good Morning Murwillumbah, the breakfast show he hosts, isn't a real television program either…?"

"Well," the voice replies, "I don't want to break your heart…"

My first conversation with Mark Trevorrow took place in 1995 when he was frequently dashing between England and Australia consolidating Bob Downe's success. Having been effectively 'on tour' with Bob for seven years, 1995 was an important year; Bob Downe met the Queen at The Royal Variety Performance. 'Yeh Yeh', a cover of the old Georgie Fame number, had just been released as the lead single from Bob's then-forthcoming album Jazzy. The album featured the track 'Je T'Aime', a duet with Julian Clary. If Jazzy failed to entice as wide an audience as it ought to have, it is only because it arrived too soon, the cocktail music revival failing to take hold for at least another six months. Not that Jazzy was a calculated attempt to exploit a trend; Bob Downe exists beyond genres. He always was and always will be and his kitsch appeal has no beginning or end.

Yet, speaking to Mark Trevorrow then, it was as though he didn't know this. Bob would rarely speak for himself in interview, and apart from the broad facts as to when and how Bob was conceived, Mark didn't have much to say about him. Not like — and I loathe the 'critic's way out' that this comparison presents — Barry Humphries. The characters of Barry Humphries all seem to have lives of their own. Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson are frequently interviewed in character, and they make reference to the nebulous Humphries. And his creations have a thriving inner life that enables Humphries to talk at length about them. In performance, Bob Downe would tell us more about himself during between-song patter, but he only existed on that stage.

Within the few years that have passed, things have changed. All Bob Downe, Bob's autobiography as written by Mark Trevorrow, has been published by Penguin. Bob's universe has been fully fleshed out, so much so that the most recent Good Weekend's 'The two of us' column featured Mark and Bob being interviewed about each other. Clearly then, when I rang Trevorrow out of the blue to request "an interview some time," his response of "how about now" took me by surprise.

"Bob's something I've been doing since I was a little kid to make everyone laugh," says Mark Trevorrow of his alter ego. Influenced by the high-camp artifice that was day-to-day television programming in this country, as well as film and radio, young Mark had "a little fantasy show-biz empire" with his sister and the kids next door, putting shows on in the back yard. "I never dreamed that it would be something that I'd do professionally," he says.

After completing his schooling at Murrumbeena High in 1976, Trevorrow pursued (or perhaps 'fell into') a career in journalism. Beginning his cadetship as a 17 year-old copy boy at Sun News Pictorial in January 1977, by its end in 1981 Mark had served as a daily pop columnist. However, broader interests were already drawing him in other directions. His years of avid television viewing may have prepared him for his production post on Channel 10's Together Tonight (a magazine-style show than ran nightly for six months).

Irrespective, Mark was already developing a cabaret act within the comedy group Gloria and the Go Gos. Featuring Wendy de Waal in the role of Gloria, the act was largely "thrown together" as a party turn.

Renamed 'The Globos', the band had its first hit in 1982 with the song 'Tintarella Di Luna'. Pre-empted back into existence by Joe Dolce's pontificating 'Shaddup You Face', the sub-genre of wog novelty discs fell into (or perhaps 'pursued') its late-80s nadir courtesy of Con the Fruiterer's 'Cuppla Days'. The genre's zenith was definitely 'Tintarella…', which made it into the top twenty charts. When you listen to the song (the high-camp artifice that is contemporary advertising has led to its recent use on a television commercial, but I can't for the life of me remember what was being flogged) you will hear Wendy and the band give their all. As with Bob Downe's Jazzy, there are times when you are not entirely convinced that The Globos know whether they're taking the piss or not.

A second single, 'The Beat Goes On', made it into the Top 40 in 1983 and was followed by a national tour with the Total and Utter King of Rock and Roll, Cliff Richard (who, like Bob Downe, is a 'committed bachelor'). When The Globos broke up in 1984, Trevorrow resumed his career in journalism. Joining Vogue Australia as a staff writer, Mark eventually rose to the position of freelance Arts Editor. However, it wasn't long before he was once again writing and performing, this time in a double act with Cathy Armstrong. Consisting of sketch comedy, the duo devised a show, A Nice Young Couple, which they performed in 1985. They also went on to write and perform for ABC Radio's comedy unit. It was from this work that Bob Downe was created, initially as a parody of Entertainment Tonight. Bob Downe went solo in 1987, launching his career at Sydney's self-proclaimed nursery of comedy, the Harold Park Hotel. A brief internship at Melbourne's Last Laugh — "it was sort of 'Comedy Central' in those days," Mark explains — gave way to Bob's foray into Britain in 1988.

I must admit that my first real introduction to Bob was via his work with the Doug Anthony Allstars, particularly in the series Daas Kapital. "I think I started working with the Dougs in '87, at the Last Laugh" Mark recalls. "They showed me the festival ropes, how to go about doing the Edinburgh Festival. Then we did a lot of touring. I used to support them a lot whenever they were playing in London." Bob, of course, remembers the proceedings so much more vividly than Mark. In an episode of Daas Kapital, a mermaid (played by Khym Lam, partner of Dougs' guitarist Richard Fidler) sums the group up thus: "Paul [McDermott]'s the one you want to do it to, Tim [Ferguson]'s the one you think of while you're doing it, but Richard's the one you want to marry." Bob takes us a step further in All Bob Downe: "Tim — like all the pretty ones — just lay there, vaguely sort of indicating. Richard? We just talked all night. And Paul… like a stinky little jackrabbit. In the end I let him hump my leg while I read TV Week."

All Bob Down marks a coming of age. Bob Downe has always exploited television. On stage, his Tony Bartuccio Dancer-moves (running directly at the camera and peeling off to the side at the last moment) are exactly how they were done on The Don Lane Show. His version of The Theme from 'Fame' bore the garbled lyrics as learnt from the crappy monaural television that you and I used to watch it on in the 70s. Daas Kapital contained the brilliant TV-advertised album commercial — "Jesus loves me, and you will too when you hear Bob Downe for Jesus". All Bob Downe brings this acute level of parody to the print medium. Bearing the bold and flamboyant typefaces and colour scheme (beige and parrot shit green) of a 70s annual, the chapters of All Bob Downe open with fraudulent newspaper headlines taken from archival issues of the Murwillumbah Irrigator. It also contains all the name-dropping references and photos of Bob's brilliant career thus far.

Mark Trevorrow recognises the position Bob is now in as the beginning of a new phase. "It's gotten to the point where Bob is someone you can always depend on to get up and do a silly song. But after 15 years, Bob is ready to host a show, rather than just make spot appearances." Indeed. Bob's hosting of the Mardi Gras telecast is testament to his ability and suitability. But that is the very least we should expect from Bob Downe. I put it to Mark that perhaps Bob Downe ought to be the first President of the Australian Republic.

"Bob would leave that to the Ray Martins and the John Farnhams," Trevorrow advises. "Bob's civic duty is strictly limited to shopping centre appearances and cutting ribbons at the openings of fetes." Fair enough. Bob is already acquainted with public office, what with his having been presented to the Queen. Which leads me back to that loathsome comparison again. Edna Everage had reached about the same point in her career as Bob is at now when Gough Whitlam bid her 'Arise, Dame Edna'. Don't be surprised if, at some point in the near future, Prime Minister Kim Beazley utters a similar dictum: "Arise, Bob Downe." That's if Kim heeds the advice of his physicians to 'arise, bob down, arise, bob down, arise…"
Dom Romeo

Sparkling duo Bob Downe and Nell Schofield hosted the evening, Neil Armfield and Clover Moore both gave inspiring speeches, Ita Buttrose and Maria Venuti were in the house, Virginia Gay belted out a very stripped back cabaret version of Sweet Transvestite, Mitzi MacIntosh performed a tribute to The Sound Of Music and Peter Cousens made everyone's dessert that much sweeter.

'I am so thrilled that Aurora's ninth Annual Dinner was such a success – a great celebration and a great fundraiser," said Alex Sosnov, Aurora Group Chairperson. "We raised over $60,000 on the night from the generosity of our supporters which will allow us to continue supporting important work in our community. A huge thank you to everyone involved."

Paddington Town Hall was described as the 'spiritual home' of Aurora, given that it was home to the first Mardi Gras party and the first Sleaze Ball. The venue looked truly glamorous – guests arrived on a red carpet and were greeted by glittering drag queens, the dining room was beautifully decked out with elegant table settings, soft lighting, metres of draped fabric and a dramatic cluster of white stars that seemed to explode above the crowd.

The two biggest auction items from the night were dinners with two of last year's Same Same 25 – Dinner with Penny Wong, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water, went for $15,000, and Dinner with Bob Brown, Leader of the Greens, went for $10,000.

A framed photograph of Matthew Mitcham by Myles Formby, as well as a pair of signed swimmers from Matthew, fetched a cool $1,000.

The Aurora Dinner really is a unique community event – not only does it generate much needed cash for community groups, but there's also something really special about sitting down and sharing a meal together and listening to community leaders talk about issues close to our heart.
Christian Taylor

Where Bel-inda did her banana

At the Hotel, Hotel Iguana

A night on expenses can have consequences

At a hotel ...

To the strain of Barry Manilow's Copacabana, the House Howlers choir made the Belinda Neal affair a lounge tune at the Press Gallery's Midwinter Ball in Canberra last night. The musical must surely follow.

The smile of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd might have been determinedly fixed as the choir of media and staffers serenaded 635 people in the Great Hall of Parliament House with ditties targeting everything from petrol prices to Labor's love of the phrase ''working families'' in one of the biggest nights on the Canberra social calendar. Belinda Neal, the Labor MP for Robertson, pulled out of attending the ball yesterday afternoon.

As the host, Murwillumbah's finest, Bob Downe, only added to the high spirits when politicians, media and corporate types gathered before Parliament's winter break starts next Thursday, most of them not returning to Canberra until August 26. The Democrats, for one, are never to return, at least for the foreseeable future.

The night raised $225,000 for charity, including the main recipient, Mission Australia's new Nightstop program, providing emergency accommodation to homeless youth. The ball has now raised $1.078 million since its inception in 2000

As he arrived with wife Therese Rein, Mr Rudd laughed off questions about whether he was planning to ''binge drink''. Health Minister Nicola Roxon said hers would be a ''moderate'' intake. Both Ms Roxon and Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop kicked tradition and wore trousers to the ball. Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson walked in with his wife Gillian Adamson, declaring: ''Isn't she beautiful?''

And, of course, the performance by the House Howlers was a chance to skewer the politicians on the issues of the day, a capella.

The Longest Time by Billy Joel was last night reworked to become a lament of the overworked public servant:

Bureaucrats and staffers all the same

We're all back here slaving in his name

That 9 to 5 life

Dinner with your husband or wife.

That hasn't happened for the longest time.

Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday was the inspiration for Working Family.

We all wanna be a working family

Mum and Dad and a kid or two

Lots of money for a working family

You can be one too.

It's the thing to do.

Coalition politicians weren't ignored, as they weighed up a future in Opposition. Cue Leaving (One Day) to John Denver's Leaving on a Jet Plane.

Sitting down the back, I know for sure.

A corporate job would pay me more

And yet I hesitate to say goodbye

But the House is rising, the staff are gone.

The Comcar driver's headed home.

So many reasons still I can't decide.

And the disappearing Democrats weren't forgotten. Bye Bye Love became Bye Bye Dems.
Megan Doherty

Entertainers Bob Downe and Nell Schofield will be reunited on stage for the first time since 1986, in what is sure to be one of the most glamorous events of the year.

Hollywoodland is the chosen theme for the evening and with film critic Schofield and camp idol Downe hosting proceedings, Aurora patrons are assured a night of decadent, enthralling fun.

"It's a great theme to get into. I mean Bob's Mr Showbiz and Nell's Mrs Movies. I just wish I still had my sparkly tracksuit to wear," Downe said during a meeting at which plans for the night were being drawn up.

"We're working on a big act and it might just get its debut in Hollywoodland," Schofield added, with an air of mystery.

"Expect incredible depth of experience, knowledge and professionalism mixed with spontaneous combustion."

"As well as some of the campest movie clips you've ever seen," Downe added.

Obviously excited by the prospect of performing together again, both Downe and Schofield were quick to point out that this wouldn't have been enough of a drawing card for them if it had been another charity group.

As they are both notoriously discerning about which charities they lend their cachet to, it would only be an event like this, combining cause and glamour, that could convince them to waive the usual fees.

"This is our job. We usually get paid squillions of dollars for it, but we're doing it for free because it's something that we really believe in," Schofield told the Sydney Star Observer.

"That's not something that we do often but the charities are so worthwhile and, if we weren't doing what we already were, we'd probably be manning those phones ourselves."

Downe said Aurora was a charity the pair wanted to work with because of the charities the organisation raises money for.

"Twenty10 is so important. The Counselling Service, so important," he said.

"Over the years the HIV charities have sort of got all the glamour and all the media attention but these two services are so vital and important in an ongoing way and will always be important. They need every penny they can get because there's always going to be gay and lesbian youth who are rejected or are in some crisis simply because they're gay or lesbian.

"The Aurora dinner is a very clever thing because it draws in a very well-heeled crowd who don't want to stand around in a nightclub. It draws in a glamorous crowd who have bucks to give and we want their bucks."

Tickets for the night of five star dining and stellar entertainment went on sale last week and are already selling fast, so if you want to take part in one of the most luxurious fundraising events on the calendar you should reserve a ticket fast.

Tickets to the Aurora dinner are $190, including cocktails, canapés and a three-course meal with entertainment. To make a booking, email bookings@auroragroup.com.au or call 8323 4041. For more information on the work Aurora does head to www.auroragroup.com.au.
Ani Lamont

And for the lucky audiences at his upcoming show at Blacktown Workers' Club, he won't be afraid to spill the beans on any of them.

"Nicely, of course," he said.

"With just a little bit of bitchiness around the edges."

For more than 20 years, Downe has been making audiences laugh with his unique sense of style, magnificent singing voice, musical talent and razor wit.

In 1999 and 2000, he was awarded the prestigious Green Room - Cabaret Artist of the Year, and continues to sell out shows.

His latest solo show, 20 Golden Greats, promises an evening of Downe singing and swinging some classic hits sure to have audiences humming along.

Downe will be joined by Mandy Nolan, reputedly the funniest woman in Byron Bay as she "escapes the kids for some fun".

Downe will appear at Blacktown Workers' Club on Friday, April 18.

Bookings: 9830 0600.
Isabella Shaw

The ceremony, hosted by Mitzi Macintosh at ARQ nightclub, recognises the hard work and dedication that went behind Mardi Gras parade entries, most of which were provided by volunteers. Entries were judged by a panel which included Mark Trevorrow and Andrew Mercado.

List of 2008 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Award Winners:

Funniest Entry - Thunderbags are Go!

Most Creative Award - James Browne Presents: 'A head of their time'

Best Dressed Entry - Anna-May and the Cyber Sues

Best Polticial Comment - 100 Revs

Judges Choice Awards - Sean Cook: That's So Gay and Dr Mark's Marching Group: Divas through the Decades

I GET a message that Bob Downe called, but isn't he a make-believe character, I ask myself?

The man behind the message is actually Mark Trevorrow.

But, in the same way that Dame Edna is more recognisable than Barry Humphries, Bob Downe's persona is larger than Mark Trevorrow's.

"As I have got older, Bob has taken on more of a life," Trevorrow says.

"Bob is a singing, dancing, talking shop dummy. He's very silly.

"He still lives with his mother, he's spoilt, he's vain and he fancies himself as a top singer."

Trevorrow, on the other hand, "is the person who is thinking what Bob's going to say".

A former journalist, entertainer and now radio broadcaster, Trevorrow invented Bob Downe 20 years ago, inspired by TV hosts such as Don Lane and Jimmy Hannan.

He says: "In the '50s and '60s it was very cool to bung on an American accent. It was sexy.

"Ten years into the character, the Aussie accent came in and it hit its stride and became a real entity in his own way."

Trevorrow says Bob is now much more over the top, intense and sharp-edged.

And his singing has improved.

Kids and adults alike enjoy Bob because he releases inhibitions.

"Kids respond to the childish freedom of the character," he says.

"Bob could do and say anything and get away with it."

Bob and Mark are inviting anyone who likes to have fun to come and see their current show, 20 Golden Greats.

A compilation of humorous songs, with some silly stuff in between, it plays at Asquith Leagues Club on Saturday, April 19. Tickets are $33 and bookings can be made by phoning 9487 1066.
Julie Huffer

The Prince of Polyester is headed to Penrith with his new cabaret show.

Bob Downe is the brainchild of Mark Trevorrow, who has been performing the flamboyant character for over 20 years.

"I have been doing him since I was a kid. He's my little clown," Trevorrow said.

"He's based on all the daytime and variety shows, the cheesy 60s and 70s TV people.

"When I started doing Bob he had an American accent because he's based on Done Lane, but much funnier than Don Lane."

Bob Downe has been clowning around the world stage since 1988 when he first appeared at the Edinburgh Festival.

In 1995, he was invited to be a part of the Royal Command Variety performance for Queen Elizabeth II.

Trevorrow believes Bob Downe's appeal to audiences around the world comes from the child within us all.

"Because I've been doing him since I was a little boy he's like a silly child, he's like a naughty boy," Trevorrow said.

"He's very uninhibited ... I think people like that because we all want see ourselves in that to escape the responsibility of adulthood."

Bob Downe's audience runs from youngens to senior citizens.

"You get everybody three generations of one family," Trevorrow said. "Lots of mums, lots of nans and they drag along the husbands and the boyfriends."

The 20 Golden Greats show will have the audience shouting with joy as Bob Downe sings his way through the classics.

"They're all your classics Down Under, Rio, I Will Survive, Xanadu and there's a bit of a bingo game involved," Trevorrow said.

"If you can name them all and the original artists, there might be a prize at the end of the show.

"I haven't done a solo show in a while. They get me all to themselves."

See Bob Downe's show at Penrith RSL Club on Saturday.

Doors open 7.30pm. Tickets: $45 including a snack plate and pre-show cocktail. Bookings: 4728 5200.

On April 18 he will bring his new show, 20 Golden Greats, to the Blacktown Workers Club stage.

Downe has been clowning around on stage since 1988 when he first appeared at the Edinburgh Festival.

He went on to become a TV favourite in Australia and in the UK and was invited to be part of the 1995 Royal Command Variety performance for Queen Elizabeth II.

For those who have never seen Downe perform on stage, he boasts a magnificent singing voice, rapier-like wit and second-to-none musical talent.

He will be supported by Mandy Nolan, the self-proclaimed funniest woman in Byron Bay.

Tickets for the show are available from the club now.

Blacktown Workers Club is in Campbell Street.

"We were sure it was a good film but not all that confident it could beat such a lot of others," Mr Moyle said.

He said watching Trevorrow as Macquarie was a highlight of the film. "Mark is a terrific actor and when he was dressed up in period costume, he was the spitting image of an official portrait of Macquarie completed in 1819," Mr Moyle said.

The prize was $1500 and $500 of wine.

Eastern Suburbs audiences can see A Chair With a View as part of the Networking Action for Filmmakers & Actors (NAFA) Show-Fest on April 28 at Greater Union cinemas, Bondi Junction.
Be Bonham

The ABC has delayed announcing the decision until contract negotiations are finalised but both parties say it's a fait accompli. One complication has been working out the nuts and bolts of how Daddo will combine the radio job with his filming commitments for Seven's holiday program, The Great Outdoors. Daddo says it won't be that difficult, despite the perception that he's constantly roaming the world.

"Seven could very easily have said, 'Mate, too hard,' but everybody has been really good," he says. "We've still got quite a few overseas stories left over from last year and this year I'll do the stories closer to home."

Daddo, 41, lives in Fairlight with wife Jacqui and their three children. For someone who says he hasn't got an ambitious bone in his body, Daddo has covered a lot of ground in broadcasting. He stumbled into TV when his older brother, Cameron, left Channel Ten's afternoon cartoon show for bigger things. "They needed someone in a hurry and Cam suggested me. It was a bit nepotistic. I've just managed to sneak out behind his coat-tails. I went back to uni halfway through that. I really had no idea what I wanted to do."

Since then, he has had a variety of acting and television roles, from playing Professor Plum in Cluedo and a stripper on stage to hosting The World's Greatest Commercials and Carols In The Domain. He has been with The Great Outdoors for five years. He has also established himself as a successful children's author, with 11 books published since 2000.

"I used to write Jacqui love letters and she was the one who thought I might be able to write," he says. "A publisher gave me the nod but it took a long time for me to get up the courage to send him anything. My first effort was appalling but he got me working on something else and I finally got cracking."

Like O'Loghlin, Daddo has a playful manner on air and doesn't take himself too seriously. He once described his role on The Great Outdoors as that of an illusionist or "turd polisher" - the job of making yet another hotel or swimming pool look desirable to armchair travellers.

This is his first job in radio, unless you count a weekly fishing program on 2KY last year, which he doesn't. "It was a laugh. None of us really knew what we were doing. Possibly it helped but I doubt it."

He has worked, however, with one of radio's greats, Mick Molloy. In year 6, they performed together in a school play at Mt Eliza, Victoria. "He was the narrator and my twin brother and I were roosters. That's when Mick started to show his acting stripes and I didn't."

Andrew Daddo airs on 702 ABC on weekdays, 7-10pm.
Sue Javes

Hosted by comedian Bob Downe, it will raise funds for the Ted Noffs Street University. Tickets $100 by visiting www.noffs.org.au or call (02) 9310 0133.
Melissa Hoyer

Huge crowds of all ages lined Oxford Street to catch a glimpse of the more than 10,000 parade participants marching in the event's 30th year.

This year there was a strong religious focus, with several of the 150 floats drawing attention to the rejection of gays and lesbians by churches.

A multidenominational group of ministers and pastors marched as a group called 100 Revs, while parishioners dressed as angels bore signs reading: "Would Jesus discriminate?"

The chief of parade was Korean-American comic Margaret Cho, whose shows have been praised for promoting equal rights for all races and sexualities.

The determination to stamp out homophobic hate crimes was led by Sydney couple Craig Gee and Shane Brennen, who were bashed while walking hand-in-hand in Darlinghurst three months ago.

Their return to Oxford Street for the first time since the incident was supported by a 30-strong contingent of officers and civilians from NSW Police, which was criticised for its handling of the bashing.

The decision of Surry Hills's recently appointed commander Superintendent Donna Adney to march was to show the community the police were listening, she said.

Discrimination was also at the forefront with the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby's "58-08" float listing 58 pieces of legislation that allegedly discriminate against same sex couples and their children in areas such as taxation, superannuation, access to Medicare, workers' compensation and carers leave.

At the VIP event at the Hilton Hotel's Zeta Bar, gay cowboy Adam Sutton joined Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Bob Downe, Christine Anu, Leo Sayer, the cast of So You Think You Can Dance, Carlotta and Carson Kressley.
Nicholas Baker and Louise Hall

The event, themed Yellow Brick Road, is going to be held on Saturday March 8 2008 at Deus ex Machina Emerald City's coolest new venue!

Deus will be transformed into the land of OZ, with amazing musical acts, street performers an emerald raffle and of course, Dorothy, the Tin-Man, Toto, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion will all be there! Not to mention the Wizard himself.

There will also a chance to win a custom designed vintage Deus motorbike. Raffle tickets are available to purchase now at only $50 each!

The evening will celebrate Hope, as in, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Rupert Noffs says of the event:

"This is not going to be just your average charity event; some of my very good friends have agreed to donate one-off custom designed Ruby Slippers to be auctioned off on the evening. Charlie Brown, Lover the Label, Simona, Grandma Takes A Trip, Orson and Blake, Fredrich Gray by Marsu Homme and über cool fashion label Ksubi are all donating their Ruby Slippers. I'm so happy Ksubi are helping out as they are not only the world leaders in fashion, they are a youth oriented Australian fashion label and they know the importance of nurturing our youth."

There will also be a silent auction of amazing artworks inspired by The Journey, by renowned Australian artists Jamie Gordon, Mary Shackman, Scott McDougal and Mike Herford.

Tickets are now available to purchase for $100, call Rupert Noffs directly by phone on 8383 6600 or by email at noffsr@noffs.org.au to buy your ticket now or simply buy a raffle ticket for $50.

You won't want to miss this party of the year!

Had the launch been outdoors it would have been one of the most inspiring in recent years. There were some brilliant, poignant and stirring speeches from Mardi Gras Chair Marcus Bourget, Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Jonathan Welch from Choir Of Hard Knocks.

There was a moving Aboriginal welcome to country, Bob Downe camped it up as only he can, Jeremy Brennan performed an awesome version of Rainbow Connection, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir belted out True Colors and Julie McCrossin and Geoff Field were brilliant MCs.

As we all know by now, this year's theme is Brave New Worlds, and we're definitely looking down the barrel of one of those right now.

"Because we are not equal – and as long as we are not equal – we march," said Marcus. "And as long as we are not equal we will use these three weeks in February to welcome with good grace and humour our straight brothers and sisters into our family. To educate, to entertain, to share our stories – to demonstrate that our love is not a second-class love and it should never be allowed to be treated as such – whether by law, religious bigotry, prejudice or hatred."

Clover Moore spoke about the 58 pieces of federal legislation that will be amended and of the need for a whole of government commitment to ending homophobia.

"This must be backed by resources and high level support for educational and attitudinal change, as well as adequate policing that says all hate crimes are criminal."
Christian Taylor

Featuring at the popular ACON fundraising event this year will be the ever outrageous Bob Downe, author Jean Kitson, comedienne Jackie Loeb, journalist David Marr, the ABC's Bernie Hobb, SBS executive Bruce Meagher and, just to top off the shenanigans, Craig Reucassel from The Chaser.

For one evening only, young will be pitted against old in a ruthless battle to determine exactly what our attitudes are towards growing old (dis)gracefully, how far is too far in the quest for the fountain of youth and when, if ever, does it become inappropriate to party like it's 1988?

"As Mardi Gras crosses over into the dirty 30s, we felt it was entirely appropriate for our debaters to explore the prickly issue of age, beauty and attitude, and how it manifests itself in the gay and lesbian community," ACON event coordinator David Wilkins said.

The Great Debate takes place on 13 February, Seymour Centre, cnr Cleveland St and City Rd. Bookings: 9351 7940.
Ani Lamont

Last year, Baker's An Imaginary Life became the first animation to win the short-film competition, now in its 16th year.

Yesterday, Daniel was one of the inaugural entrants to TropJnr, a spin-off competition for filmmakers aged 15 and under, with his 5½-minute animation Disaster, an action comedy about a terrorist attack.

The teenager from Picnic Point in Sydney's south-west said he had planned to enter Tropfest when he saw an advertisement on the competition's website for TropJnr. Hand-drawing each of the five characters and creating voices, the film took Daniel just three weeks of school holidays to complete on his home computer.

"I like cartoons like The Simpsons and Family Guy," Daniel told the Herald yesterday from the Tropfest offices in Darlinghurst, on the last day of entries for the competition.

"I like how you can make cartoons do anything, there are no limitations."

The managing director of Tropfest, Michael Laverty, said increasing numbers of entries from young filmmakers to Tropfest prompted its founder, John Polson, to open a special competition, with eight finalists to be screened as part of the festival on February 17.

"This year we received one submission from a year five class - every kid in the class had been involved in the project," Laverty said. "One of the things we will see is animation coming through quite strongly, because it is something that can be done on a laptop and at a low cost."

While about 60 entries were expected for the first year of the TropJnr competition, Laverty said up to 700 entries were expected for Tropfest by the 6pm deadline yesterday, with this year's signature item the number eight.

Among the last-minute entrants was the film director Nigel Abbott, accompanied by his star actor Mark Trevorrow- better known as his alter ego, Bob Downe - submitting their film, a period drama-comedy set in 1818.

Abbott said he was hoping the celebrity pull of the film, which is written by Bill Harding and also stars the film critic Nell Scofield and soap star Anne Lambert, would help make it one of the 16 finalists.

"We shot it in July and finished it yesterday, so we took our time. Everyone donated their time free of charge, though, so it was a low-budget production," he said.
Emily Dunn