WELL-LOVED Australian star of musical theatre Rhonda Burchmore and her partner in crime Lara Mulcahy return to Perth for a one night only show at Crown Perth Theatre.
They will have us dancing in the aisles as they relive the songs of Abba in the smash hit live show Abba-solutely Fabulous on 25 November.
Growing up diehard ABBA fans Rhonda Burchmore and Lara Mulcahy will bring 22 ABBA songs to life in this hilarious two-hour show.
“We are two women of a certain age who celebrate girl power and celebrate friendship – the two of us were in the original Mamma Mia in 2001. We became besties there and have been besties ever since,” Rhonda Burchmore told Have a Go News on a recent visit to Perth.
“We found out it’s been 40 years since ABBA came down under and we thought what a great idea to get with your bestie and get out and sing ABBA,” said Rhonda.
The show is a hilarious romp about two girls growing up in opposite sides of the country, (Sydney and Perth) who are both singers and dancers who never got to that ABBA concert 40 years ago.
“We are kind of like the Patsy and Eddie (Ab Fab characters) of Australia in the theatre world and we always have each others’ back – it’s an amazing chemistry that you can’t make up,” said Rhonda.
“We don’t try to be Frida and Anna from ABBA – were just two girls having fun.
“We encourage everyone to sing along – a lot of people dress up and we get the audience to get their phones out on flashlight for our rendition of Fernando.
“We have a very young band, the average age of them are 22 – I call them my cougar band – they had never played an ABBA tune in their lives but they love them and do it so well,” she said.
Rhonda has been performing since the age of two and she says that show business is the only thing she has ever wanted to do.
“My Mum taught me the business of show – if you go out you should be glamorous – it was instilled in my sister and me that you should dress up and look glamorous when you perform and I love that part of show business,” she said.
At the interview Rhonda is perfectly groomed in a stunning flowing long green silk dress, she is a glamorous woman who is warm, entertaining and believes her secret to looking good is her positive attitude to life.
“I don’t see age as a reason that you should stop doing something.
“I never see myself retiring – I believe that just because you’re at a certain age that you shouldn’t stop – there’s no limit – if you love doing what you’re doing, keep doing it,” said Rhonda.
Abba-solutely Fabulous is perfect for all ages, there’s no swearing in the show, there’s lots of laughs, lots of wonderful ABBA songs and Lara and Rhonda finish the show doing a meet and greet with the audience.
Relive the songs of ABBA with these two fabulous women and as Molly Meldrum says, “Do yourself a favour and catch my favourite Dancing Queens.”
Abba-solutely Fabulous plays Crown Theatre 25 November, tickets through Ticketmaster.