By: Pepa Wolfe
Life Music Media invites you to
Toby Francis is making waves. Winner of the Annual Cabaret Showcase in Sydney last year and hot off the heels of an appearance at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the irrepressible young star brings his edgy rock cabaret show Bloklahoma! to Brisbane. Life Music Media takes a quick peek at the man behind the buzz.
Blokelahoma! is about gender, sexuality, religion and perspective. I enjoy it because it’s a medium where you can create stand-up with music and not get booed off stage when you get intimate. Unless it’s with some kind of animal or dead person.
You write and perform your own material. Where do you find inspiration?
I read a lot. I also have a face which is a pretty ridiculous feature. My material comes from these things plus people’s stupid fucking ideas. World peace is like a catch-22 to me because on the one hand, it’s world peace but on the other, I will have nothing to talk about.
What was it like working with David Campbell and how did he influence Blokelahoma!?
Fantastic. He knows Cabaret like it used to beat him in High School. It’s phenomenal, without him Blokelahoma! would be a mess of word vomit and diatribe. He help sculpt the show and told me what it was missing. It was amazing.
Blokelahoma! attempts to bridge the cabaret / rock divide. Are Aussie audiences increasingly embracing cabaret?
I think people like Paul Capsis did that way before I even thought about this show and there are probably a few others that I haven’t mentioned. I only just got started so I don’t know what the audiences were like last years, even. I’ll say ‘yes’. Because I want it to be true.
:: What is your favourite play? ::
Emerald City, A Few Good Men or Glengarry Glen Ross. I haven’t seen any of them performed.
:: What is your favourite musical? ::
Jesus Christ Superstar. Rejected the source material but kept the music.
:: Name a character that you’d really love to play ::
Judas in JCS.
:: What is the most memorable production or performance you have seen?
Something that really inspired you. ::
I saw a great amateur version of Les Mis when I was about 14. That stayed with me.
:: Favourite recording artist? ::
This isn’t going to sound like truth but it’s Cold Chisel.
:: Favourite album? ::
I can’t choose. But I’ve been listening to The Last Wave of Summer for the last few weeks.
:: Favourite food? ::
Eggs Benedict with Ham.
:: Favourite drink? ::
Jim Beam and Diet Coke or Water. Water is so damn good.
:: Favourite place? ::
1st.
:: Favourite season? ::
Sopranos Season 6.
:: Recommend a book ::
Watership Down.
:: Recommend a film ::
Anything Aaron Sorkin. That goes for television.
:: Recommend a website ::
www.smbc-comics.com
:: Words of wisdom ::
It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it well.
What is next for Toby Francis?
I just recently had sex with a maid and I plan to run for political office. So, catch up with me in ten years when my wife has left me and I make a return to film.
Toby Francis in Bloklahoma! at the Cremorne Theatre (QPAC) on 24 June 2011, presented as a double-bill together with Gillian Cosgriff in Waitressing, and Other Things I Do Well, as part of QPAC’s 12 Acts of Cabaret.
– Pepa Wolfe
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