Femme Fatale With Emma Ford

We’ve all heard “girl power” songs over the years, whether they were by Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or even going back to the ’90s with The Spice Girls. It would be interesting to hear them in a 1940s burlesque twist to them. Well, The Candy Topps, a trio of actresses who simply love burlesque and vintage fashion, will soon performs their new show Femme Fatale at The Butterfly Club, and will perform such songs. Milk Bar Mag were lucky to get the chance to speak to Emma Ford, one of these lovely and talented actresses.

How did the show get involved with the Melbourne Fringe Festival?
We just sent in all of our details and said to be involved. Such a wonderful platform to try a new show. It evolved in 2009 as part of the vaudeville residency at the Butterfly Club. We got such a great response and created full length show. We had such a ball doing it. Last time we did a full length show was five years ago. It’s a passion project, and we’ve known each other for a decade. Melbourne Fringe seemed like perfect opportunity for this.

How does it feel to be returning to perform at this venue?
It is a wacky place, definitely Melbourne’s most known cabaret venue. It’s great for established and up and coming artists. We’ve performed many times over the years. There are kitschy things everywhere.

What is The Candy Topps about?
There are three female characters: Kitty, Stella and Fify. To us, they are the twisted and hilariously jaded ancestors of the Andrew sisters. They have that vintage look from the ’40s and ’50s. and do beautiful, rich, tight harmonies. There’s naughty, outrageous social commentary. It’s just a really great night of entertainment of razzle dazzle. We do our own twist on songs with dirty jokes and intricate dance moves. It’s a really fun night. We’ve known each other for a really long time, we’re all best friends, we love working together. The audience participates, everyone has a good time. Our love of each other rubs off on the audience, it’s a great feeling.

All the girls in the show are wearing polka dot dresses and pink flowers in their hair. Why was that chosen as the costume?
That was just something we really like the look of. Were all different shapes and sizes. We all have to agree on things.

How did you find singing songs by contemporary artists such as Beyonce, Pink, Lady Gaga and the others in a cabaret format?
The show’s called Femme Fatale, so it’s about seductiveness. We’re taking that style and moving it to modern pop music by current female artists and songs everyone knows.

I think it’s safe to say The Candy Topps would be a great girls night out. Is that way of thinking what inspired the show?
Definitely, though it’s a sexy show. There’s a burlesque element, it’s a high energy show. We get a lot of hens night groups. We also have older couples; the musical style goes back to their hey day. It is a great girls night out. It’s a great way to get a corporate group together. It’s a very commercial show in that it appeals to a broad audience.

Femme Fatale
The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne
Tuesday September 29 – Sunday October 4, 8:30pm
melbournefringe.com.au/program/event/view/0a39be63-ef2a-4956-8a6d-c0d4be07ae6e