Sunday, October 02, 2005

The Kransky Sisters

Amongst the sentences I thought I would never say (or type) is "I'm in love with three sisters." I heart the comedic cabaret act the Kransky Sisters.

I think Helen Razer captured some of their appeal well, when she wrote:
The Kransky Sisters have emerged from an Oedipal nightmare to change the songs of Michael Jackson forever. Looking like pill-addled bank tellers circa 1981 and sounding like a sherry-addled Country Women's Association musical auxiliary, the Kransky Sisters cannot be adequately described in text.

If they were a smell, it would be naphthalene flakes and sausage mince. If they were a flavour, it would be lard, tea-cakes and fear.

Alleged natives of unremarkable Queensland burg, Esk, these girls offer a seamless performance and an entirely new spin on drag. Their views on femininity, pop culture and the nuances of gravy are extraordinary and bust-a-gut, shed-a-tear, sputteringly funny.

The Kranskys' world of doilies, repression and vintage Butterrick patterns gone horribly wrong must be seen to be appreciated. This twisted representation of suburban Australian femininity is up there with Dame Edna - they are that good. Don't even think about missing this show.


I would add that the Kransky's also layer in a whiff of old school Eastern European repression, as if they were first generation immigrant children of slightly mad and fearfull parents from Warsaw, or the Russian Steppes.

On last night's episode of In Siberia Tonight they did a cover version of "Intuition" by Jewel, full of tuba highlights, that gave more than a nod in the direction of a Volga folk song, that had me squealing and rolling on the ground with delight. If they bring their comic cabaret show "We Don't Have Husbands" to Sydney again (because I missed it last time) I'm so there.

7 comments:

harry said...

Ah yes. Saw them for the first time on the Melb Comedy Festival Gala on TV this year.
Great stuff.

Funny? Yes.
Disturbing? Also.

The Other Andrew said...

Any act with a musical saw - well, they had me right there.

I dig their slightly Adams Family style stizz. I love the way Eve repeats everything Mourne says, about a second or two behind her. A combo of that creepy twin-speak sort of thing and the annoying people who finish your sentences along with you.

yani said...

I caught them tonight (along with the random yet very, very, very, very, very attractive, and possibly mute, accordian player right at the end)... very odd...

Funny as all hell... but odd...

I have no idea who any of them are, but the one with the Adams Family nose, I'm guessing its Mourne, was cool...

And something about discipline involving a cheese grater... or something...

The Other Andrew said...

Yes, that's them alright! Mourne is the main speaker, the older sister. Eve is the one who obsessively echoes everything Mourne says, and Ava is the silent Tuba player.

I saw it last night too and thought it was very funny. "It's good to be helpful. Being obedient is helpful. Being silent is being helpful". So creepy.

I think the accordian player is Marcello, and he only speaks through the sounds of the accordian. Yes, he is pretty cute.

Anonymous said...

I'm similarly in love with the Kransky Sisters! Unfortunately being in Britain I can't watch In Siberia Tonight so I have to get by on the odd clip. :) I hope they bring out a CD or DVD soon.

The Other Andrew said...

I'm with you Matt, it would be great if they brought out a CD or DVD. Up until their regular spot on In Siberia Tonight they only appeared on the occasional tv comedy special here, so it's been great to see them have a regular gig, even if it is only little 10 minute segments.

Paul M said...

Ava was the best !!! *Sob* ... when's she coming back from the military band ???