By Crimson Kitten

CK: I saw the trailer for your up-and-coming film, Burlesque!  Creepy stuff madam, just like Chucky Dolls sexier older sister.  What was the film experience like?  
PC:  I had worked behind-the-scenes on a film set before, but this was my first time in front of the camera. Burlesque is a low budget independent film which meant we had a fast 9 day shoot, so we all had to be really well prepared – some of the scenes we only had time for 1 take!
Tammy was a great character to play, she’s so childish and cheeky and just a little bit evil, but at the end of the day she just wants to help – she just has a very warped idea of how to do it!
The hardest thing was getting out of character at the end of the shoot!

If you want to see the film, it will be having its world premiere at Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF) in August – http://www.muff.com.au http://www.burlesquemovie.com.au

CK:  Was it different to performing on stage?  
PC:  In some ways, Tammy’s character is not dissimilar to Poppy as she’s very upfront and cheeky.
The main difference between film and stage was I had a tendency to overplay the scenes, and the director had to keep telling me to tone it down. On stage you have to work to project yourself out into the audience, whereas the camera picks up every little detail.

CK:  Do you have an inspiration you look to for your burlesque acts?  A favourite burlesque belle perhaps?
PC:  I think each act I put together is a combination of inspiration from the music, with a touch of parody – whether of a stereotype (such as the French maid or the wild west madam), or a reflection of what is going through my head at the time (such as my ‘Fame’ fan dance).
I think the best example of a performer who did this back in the day was Gypsy Rose Lee, who could be thoroughly amusing and entertaining while still maintaining class. These days my favourite performer is Imogen Kelly – I think she’s amazingly talented with a wicked sense of humour!

CK:  You lovingly hand make pasties. Those custom-made love-heart-with-leopard print ones on your Facebook, reow!  Where can I get my hands on some of your work?
PC:  Thanks! At the moment I have pasties for sale at Burlesque Bar in Johnston St, Fitzroy, and Blue Attic in Lygon St, East Brunswick. Sapphira also sells them through her Burlesque classes.
A lot of what I do is custom made work, where performers contact me directly so I can make something to match a special costume.

CK:  It doesn’t seem like your typical handicraft.  What made you want to make pasties?
PC:  Pasties are a staple item for any burlesque dancer. I was really keen to make sure my pasties match my costumes, so the logical step was to learn how to make them. A few people asked me to make pasties for them, and it kind of grew from there!

CK:  Have you got any tips on the industry for any budding burlesque babes at Red Bennies?
PC:  Find the style of burlesque that suits you, and then be creative within that style – burlesque can take so many forms and it is always evolving, its always exciting to see the new directions people take and the ideas they have.
Having a point of difference also makes you more memorable as a performer.

CK:  You’re a regular at Burlesque Bar as part of Madame Natalia’s Cirque de Femmes. Tell us something about your performances there.  
PC:  Cirque de Femmes is 7 regular burlesque performers – myself, Foxtrot India, Honey B Goode, Lady Chocolat, Scarlett, Miss Nic and Bijou - and we’ll also have guest performers.
Cirque de Femmes happens Friday and Saturday nights at Burlesque Bar – we’re just starting to ramp things up now, the idea is as well as performers having their regular routines, we’ll be having group numbers, crazy MC’s, clowns, circus performers, and roving entertainment before the show.

CK:  You also do the monthly event Shimmy Shake for Red Bennies!  What have you got in store at RB’s for us to see this month?
PC:  This month I’ll be performing my sweet, innocent parasol routine – but don’t worry, it still has a very naughty touch!

See Poppy Cherry perform in the Shimmy Shake Show Nov 5th, Strawberry Sundays show Nov 14th and the Santa-esque show Dec 3rd at Red Bennies.