Mzz Kimberley and Son ofa TuTu are two of our sassiest cabaret divas, and if you’ve seen them solo, you can imagine that together they’re a double diva delight. We caught up with the gurls as they crack wise, bitch and discuss their show, Sister Acts…
It’s Sunday afternoon in the Sisters’ household and Mzz Kimberley is in the kitchen rattling pans and pots, whilst Son ofa Tutu is monitoring the police and immigration radio…
TUTU: Ah Sister, what are you doing?
KIM: I’m cooking an American Sunday roast: fried chicken, black eyed peas, collard greens, ham hocks, pig foot, grits, corn-bread, candy yams, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato pie and Cool Aid!
TUTU: Eh eh, but where’s the roast bit?
KIM: Sister, it’s a black American Roast; it’ll roast in your belly. If you don’t like it, you can make some of your bush meat next Sunday. By the way, Topping and Butch called…
TUTU: Which one?
KIM: The camp one.
TUTU: Well, that narrows it down… NOT! Be more specific!
KIM: [Laughs] I don’t know; whichever one it was, he had me in fits of laughter and so I forgot to clarify. They called to confirm that they will be joining us as special guests for ‘Sister Acts – The Extended Version’ on the 28th of February at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
TUTU: Oh that’s so good… I have invited a whole African village; what should I tell them the show is about?
KIM: It’s about two sisters who love but hate, look after, yet can’t stand each other… just like us really. It contains: sexy men in uniform, show tunes, punk rock, a cat fight, Gospel, disco, choreography, a wheelchair, a comic book super hero; and heaps more. Just think ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane’ meets ‘The Color Purple’ laced with acid!
TUTU: It’s quite a lot of fun and despite the considerable age gap – I am younger by about a decade – we seem to gravitate towards a lot of common interests in music, art, theatre, history and life in general. We approach this vibrant centre from different perspectives, which makes the development and production of this show, such fun and I hope the audience continue to enjoy it as much as we have; it broke Hot August Fringe box office records when we premiered it last year at the RVT.
KIM: One day, when I lay my hands on your birth certificate, I will publish it in all the papers and magazines, just to prove your real age Juju woman.
TUTU: But it’s true; I’m much younger. Anyway, one thing everyone knows is that you have been in this business much longer than I have. What has it been like these past 20 years? What are the highs and lows?
KIM: I’ve had many highs and lows and continue to learn from the mistakes made along the way. As you know, I started out at Madame JoJo’s in the 90s and then went on to do things as varied as hosting ‘Fruit Machine’ at Heaven – don’t go there – to touring with Cyndi Lauper – being on a plane 3 to 4 times a week nearly killed me – and living for a short while in Russia, which I adored, where I played the part of ‘The Madam’ in Jean Genet’s ‘The Maids’. Various other things here and there, but now I’m working with you. You cow! Pray tell, it’s almost two years since you won Drag Idol; what has that been like?
TUTU: Drag Idol thrust me onto the scene and I pretty much had to learn the business on the job in the glare of the limelight. I’ve done some gigs that have been phenomenal, and some that have been atrocious; most are somewhere in the middle. You enjoy the good ones, but the bad ones are the agents of development, if you allow yourself to accept that it’s never the audience’s fault, and that you just didn’t have what it took to get them, on the day; I live by that belief. ‘Sister Acts’ has been a highlight, as was working in Gran Canaria in November for the’ Winter Warmer’. I shall be returning in May for Pride, and I cannot wait, as I can see Africa from ‘Ricky’s Cabaret Bar’.
KIM: ‘Sister Acts’ a highlight, eh? I can’t wait to start working on our new show, which we plan to premier in the Autumn.
TUTU: Yes my Sister, me too, but first, is dinner ready? I’m starving…
• Don’t miss Sister Acts at RVT (372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY) on Thursday 28th February. Doors 7pm, show 8:30pm. Tickets are available at www.rvt.org.uk.
