Ding Dong, Avon Calling

Feature, By Christian Taylor, 27th November, 2007

“Oh Christian, you sound so fabulous!” says Denise Drysdale down the phone line. “You’ve got that sort of laid back, sexy voice. We’re not doing a late night ‘call me I’m lonely’ type of interview are we?”

When I finally stop laughing I tell her no, but that I’ll keep that in mind for the future.

“Just pretend I’m not here!” shouts Bob Downe from across the room.

It’s not everyday that Bob Downe blends into the background, but then again, that’s Denise Drysdale for you. The Clown Prince of Polyester has joined forces with the woman affectionately known as Ding Dong for their show Ding Dong Downe, and if the first ten seconds of my interview is any indication, it’s going to be a riot.

Denise tells me that Bob’s busy preparing food for them both. “He’s actually doing us a sumptuous lunch – so far we’ve got lamingtons and sausages in pineapple rings. Yeah, he knows how to cook, that bloke.”

Ah, the glamour of show business.

Denise has packed a lot into her career since her days as a Melbourne go go dancer at the tender age of seventeen. She went from TV barrel girl to entertaining the troops in Vietnam and by the mid seventies she’d won her first Gold Logie – she now has two of them. In 2000 she celebrated forty years in television – that’s no easy feat.

“I’m not in TV now though, I do about ninety shows a year onstage all around Australia – I do all kinds of different stuff. I’m an MC, I do talks – you know funny talks, not motivational speaking,” she adds, “I do all sorts of stuff, I’m very lucky.” When asked if she misses television she laughs, “Well, TV pays better! I wish I could not be on TV and still get that cheque! I really do like a live performance though, because the audiences are always so fabulous.”

When it comes to her audiences, Denise says that she’s always noticed a gay following, even as far back as the sixties. “I’m very grateful for them to be in the audience. They’re lovely people who are very appreciative of my sense of humour, that’s what I like. They enjoy the silliness.” She’s right – Denise is very much a total breath of fresh air, a woman who obviously doesn’t take life too seriously and her laughter is infectious.

Ding Dong Downe promises to be a random night of clowning, song and good old fashioned entertainment. And the combination of Denise and Bob will surely turn the camp dial up to twelve. “It’s just silly and fun. After the show people have come up to us and told us that they haven’t laughed that much in a long time, so that’s our reward,” says Denise before adding, “That and the money!”

I commend her for her honesty.

“Well, look I’m too old to perform for fun darl! We like it when they pay for their tickets. I’ve got to make a living, I’ve got two dogs and four alpacas to feed. Do you think they can go downtown and buy their own food if I’m not working? That’s what I tell the dogs, Buddy and Olly, I say Mummy’s gotta go make money for Pal darling.”

Luckily for her pets, Denise is a woman who has stood the test of time, and she’s got plenty of razzle dazzle in her yet.

Ding Dong Downe plays Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, Sat 8 Dec 2007, 8pm and Sydney Opera House, Drama Theatre from 18 – 23 December.

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