Two delicious divas, known as DivaLicious, are dishing up a delectable feast of fabulous songs and divine duets in the full length theatrical show – DivaLicious – Opera Rocks! in Sydney.
Nominated for Best Cabaret in Fringe World 2013, 2014 & 2015, and described as “Great wads of comedy slapped between two gorgeous divas” and finalists in “Australia’s Got Talent”, comic sopranos Penny Shaw and Fiona Cooper Smyth play the dueling divas, competing for not only the top notes but also for handsome WA Opera baritone and guest singer Robert “The Phantom” Hofmann’s affection!
This fully staged, fast-paced, highly original show changes mood and genre almost as frequently as the girls change their fabulous frocks, impressing everyone from the seasoned opera lover to the complete novice. Opera’s greatest hits, pop and musical theatre are given a DivaLicious musical make-over as these divas are let loose with comedy and innuendo. From Mozart to Mamma Mia, Queen of the Night to Queen, anything goes!
“Perfect for opera newbies as well as aficionados who relish fine singing but just want a good laugh now and again. Loved it.” William Yeoman , The West Australian.
We sat down with the Divas recently to chat all things life, opera and, well, being a diva!
Tell us where your love of singing came from?
Fiona: From a very early age, I’ve always loved to act, sing and perform. It’s always been a passion of mine and after a performance – I’m usually on a real high! Love it!
Penny: My Mother used to sing to me as a child and one of my earliest memories is having a tantrum at daycare when Mrs. Twist couldn’t sing my favourite nursery rhyme. She claimed she didn’t know the tune….I was not impressed!
What’s your daily fitness and wellbeing routine? Is there something in particular you do to keep your voice on top of it’s game while you’re performing/training for shows?
Fiona: I walk Apache, my Red Heeler dog each day. I am also on and off diets all the time to keep my figure in check (the thought of being a fat opera singer scares me!). When I have the time, I go to the gym as I love Pump, Zumba and Step. I like swimming, cycling and any chance I get to go on a boat sailing or motoring – I’m there! However, rehearsing the voice always comes first (along with DivaLicious admin!) first so quite often the exercise goes out of the window especially if I have a performance that night where I need to take it easy. I always warm up my voice in the shower as the warm steam is great for the vocal chords and the natural acoustics makes me believe I sound pretty good so it’s also a confidence booster.
Penny: I love to sleep in! I hate getting up early but with four children to get ready for school I only occasionally manage it. I think pre-children I was much fussier about what I would and wouldn’t do on the day of a performance; but now a fitness and well-being routine is luxury that I can’t afford!
I eat raw garlic if I feel like I am coming down with a sore throat, I swear by it. I make my husband sleep on the sofa if he is sick (mean, but effective!) and if any of the children have gastro I wave at them from a distance and spray everything else with disinfectant! I have recently taken up yoga, and I love to surf, although I probably wouldn’t risk it on the day of a show….
What was the point in your career that you decided to head towards singing opera? Have you always wanted to?
Fiona: I didn’t consider opera although I was classically trained at school & uni. I always got the leading roles. Funnily enough, when I was in my late teens, I laughed when a close friend of mine said she wanted to be an opera singer. It just wasn’t cool although she had a great voice. I used to prefer pop and musical theatre but at the age of 20 I realised my voice was more suited to the classical repertoire than pop and I loved the drama of opera and so I naturally headed towards the opera world.
Penny: I tried every kind of singing before ending up with opera. I sang jazz, musical theatre, pop and I was not the slightest bit interested in opera, until I was in one! I was cast as Zerlina, the saucy peasant girl, in Don Giovanni when I was at university and I was totally hooked and have been ever since.
Tell us what is so wonderful about Divalicious?
Fiona: The music, the humour, the bling and the dresses! We have a great time whenever we do a gig and, being mums, it certainly gets us out of the kitchen so to speak! Any excuse to dress up (I’m still a kid at heart!)
Penny: DivaLicious – Opera Rocks is a totally “feel good” experience. The audience leave humming, laughing, slightly shocked and, hopefully feeling freshly inspired by classical music!
What do you love about performing as a duet rather than as a soloist?
Fiona: I love working with Penny because she’s a great laugh and we really do have a fun time whether we’re travelling on a tour; backstage waiting for hours to go on the TV; or performing our DivaLicious antics on stage! It is also great to have moral support when we have slightly stressful gigs such as singing at The Ashes in front of millions of viewers or occasionally if the soundman gets something wrong and we have to adlib to cover up! Penny has always got a witty quip for everything!
Penny: I absolutely agree with what Fiona said. We have both done plenty of work as soloists and it can be pretty lonely. Being in a duo is much more fun, we always find something to giggle at. Fiona is great company and I am never bored! Musically I also love singing in harmony, there is something completely magical the sound of two voices singing together rather than just one.
It must be a pinnacle performance venue at the Opera House – tell us a bit about it?
Fiona: This is the ULIMATE for any opera singer – so why not DivaLicious! You only live once and it was at the top of my Bucket List, we can’t wait!
The show is about two duelling divas who try to steal the spotlight and the man. It’s full of innuendo, fabulous frocks, and beautiful music and lots of humour. A mix of opera, musical theatre – and even pop – just to shock the opera purist! If you have never seen an opera and think you don’t even like it, – you’ll love “DivaLicious – Opera Rocks!” as it sends it all up, yet pays immaculate tribute to the integrity of the music, leaving you with a real “feel good factor” at the end of the show. We also love to meet the audience afterwards and sign CDs.
Penny: We are both delighted to be performing in this iconic building, singing opera in the Sydney Opera House is something that all opera singer aspire to. We are just a little bit excited!
What was it like being a finalist on Australia’s Got Talent? Did you expect to get that far?
Fiona: AGT was an amazing experience and gave us a real insight into the world of television and the strategy of talent shows ie what makes good TV…. Unlike the theatre where everything moves at a fast pace, with TV, you can be waiting around of hours and hours before your 2 mins of TV fame! We developed a great following of fans and we loved working with the AGT team. It was fabulous experience I’ll never forget and really boosted our profile in Australia and overseas.
Penny: No we really didn’t expect to get that far and it was an extraordinary experience in so many ways. Apart from anything else it was lovely to show the world that you can still chase your dreams, even after having four children and being a little past 40! Women of our age tend to be somewhat invisible the media and it was great to be recognised for our talents. And once again we had lots of laughs when we weren’t panicking.
Your last purchase was?
Fiona: A faux fur jacket
Penny: Diamante earrings and false eyelashes (I go through lots of both!)
Music you listen to?
Fiona: Cross over music, world music, opera, blues. If I have friends around, I usually play Diana Krall, or something relaxing. My musical influences apart from all the soprano repertoire (and my idol Dame Kiri Te Kanawa whom I have met and sung with) are Il Divo (who Penny has sung with – lucky thing!), Amici, Celtic Woman, Boccelli, and dare I say it…Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Coincidentally, Penny and I worked for Lloyd Webber him before we emigrated to Australia as Penny was Carlotta in the UK Tour and I did Public Relations for his The Really Useful Games Company. However, Penny and I only met singing for West Australian Opera where we were destined to be rivals. We still are rivals of course, but unleased only on stage! People say we have this great chemistry on stage whether blending with our voices or bantering backwards and forwards with our one-upmanship style of humour.
Penny: Pink Martini is my absolute favourite band and if the radio is on I usually listen to Classic FM. Other than that I usually listen to what my children play, they all sing and play guitar. None of them sing opera yet but they love DivaLicious so it’s only a matter of time!
Your favourite place in the world is?
Fiona: Home – or relaxing by a swimming pool somewhere hot and exotic.
Penny: We own a farmhouse in the South of France (long story!), we were married there and we hardly ever get to visit but it is pretty hard to beat on a long summer evening with the extended family all there.
On a Sunday you love to?
Fiona: Go to the river for a coffee/lunch with the family and then in the evening cuddle up with hubby and watch a movie.
Penny: Invite friends for lunch. I pour drinks and entertain people whilst my husband cooks. And then I accept compliments on the food!
Your career highlight was?
Fiona: Appearing on Australia’s Got Talent and soon – performing at The Sydney Opera House.
Penny: I have been singing professionally for over 20 years so there are quite a few! I played Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera; I was once awarded the keys to the city of a town in France after a performance of La Traviata; I had a top 40 hit single in London and sang on Faithless’ first ground breaking album Reverence. The most recent highlight was getting nominated for Best Cabaret three years running at Fringe World with Divalicious, for two shows that Fiona and I wrote ourselves.
You can’t leave the house without?
Fiona: My Mobile
Penny: I can’t leave the house without forgetting something….
Your personal style is?
Fiona: Evenings: Ball dresses, evening gowns, bling & heels. Day: Smart/Casual. I love dresses, elegant necklaces and earrings.
Penny: Extremely variable! I am frequently dreadfully scruffy, trainers, track pants, no make-up etc. because I like to dress as if I am about to work out. Clearly I never actually get around to it but it gives me an excuse to be comfortable. Of course I also love to dress up, I have some gorgeous clothes both evening and for day; I can transform from Dag to Diva in under 20 minutes.
The beauty product you can’t live without?
Fiona: Lipstick
Penny: Mascara and those huge knickers that suck your tummy in.
Your travel essentials are?
Fiona: Passport, credit cards, toiletries, makeup, lingerie, swim suit, maxi dress.
Penny: Ear-phones, clothes that don’t need ironing (I am dreadful at packing neatly), water, comfortable shoes!
Your favourite snack is?
Fiona: A banana or raw food snacks (Yes I’m a closet Raw Foodist)
Penny: Cheese and biscuits. I’m quite fond of nuts too. You are what you eat….
Your fitness/health philosophy is?
Fiona: “Only do it if you need it!”
Penny: Help! I really don’t have one. Do I need one? (Feeling guilty and ashamed now, will do better in 2016!)
Pet peeve?
Fiona: Slow drivers! Tea bags in the sink – ugh! Mobile etiquette (ie don’t use your phone when in company unless really important and always reply to a text or email as a courtesy).
Penny: Sniffers, noisy eaters and people who don’t know when I’m joking!
Biggest food weakness?
Fiona: Chocolates; Champagne; Fish n Chips with Heinz Ketchup; soy chips – once I start on any of those items, its hard to put the breaks on.
If I am on one of my many diets – I abstain from virtually everything – drink loads of water and just eat one type of protein, veggies and salad. How long I stay on a diet can vary from 6 hours (until I slip up by late arvo and have to start again the next day) to 10 months (my biggest triumph where I lost 7 kilos – amazing for me!)
Penny: I love food so I have to work hard not to over eat when there is something delicious on offer, it doesn’t matter what it is.
This post was last modified on 18/01/2016 6:31 pm