Christa Hughes belts out boozy ballads

Last night I found myself standing outside a Hall in the middle of a tiny paddock in Lyonville.  Miriam had invited me (after four others turned her down!!!) with the scantiest of advance information except Dress Warm. Lyonville (or “The Centre of the Universe” according to the road sign) has about five houses, the Radio Springs Hotel and a Town Hall (which is trickier to find than you’d imagine).  Mingling on the mini paddock was High Society from near and far; dressed in full length faux fur coats, tweed suits, and Pokka dot petticoat dresses. For the first time since arriving in the Wild Wild West, I’m the one that’s under-dressed! Deep breaths……. Deep Breaths.  I still had no idea what or who was performing.

Eventually the gong (aka Cow Bell) signaled High Society to enter the teeniest town Hall EVER. My bathroom is larger than this hall. The stage looked like a doll’s house rendition of Kath Kidson’s front room; replete with red and white gingham wallpaper, floral curtains and grand piano.  Amid the seating chaos, in she walked. Christa Hughes.  For the next two hours, I was either laughing or awed, in equal measure.

 Dressed in the tightest satin known to man, Christa soon turned Lyonville Hall into Carnegie Hall, with her “Beer Drinking Woman” cabaret show. She has the star quality and voice of a young Liza Minnelli, just with better range and boozier songs. Case in point; Christa skols a schooner and then gargle-sings her way through Memphis Slim’s 1940’s Honky Tonk classic, “Beer Drinking Woman.” Accompanied by superb pianist Leonie Cohen, an accordion, whistle, ukulele and (interestingly) a megaphone, Christa belts out booze laced tunes like you’ve never heard before. Britney Spears “Toxic” is turned into a hangover Hair of the Dog remedy; Christa’s bawdy version of “My Favourite Things” from Sound of Music sounds like Lindsay Lohan’s life story; and Cold Chisel’s anthem, “Cheap Wine” turns into a soliloquy on Cask Wine...Read more...