Carlotta Queen of the Cross

Watching Carlotta Queen of the Cross is attending an audience with a living legend. We are privileged to share her life in 70 mins of non-stop laughter and applause.

After a short piano introduction to ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’, Carlotta makes her entrance in a glittering full-length silver gown and black feather boa. For those of us lucky enough to have seen her in ‘Les Girls’ at the Cross, as I have, the years have not dimmed her talent and politically incorrect banter.

The ‘cock in a frock’, as she calls herself, has been in show business for 54 years and as we soon discover she will be a proud 74 years young in September and without Botox. She does remind us though that she used to measure 36-24-36-9 ½, if you get her drift.

Carlotta’s friend,Ricky May was an integral part of her early years and as a tribute to him she delivers a knock out performance of the Rogers and Hart classic ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ or in her case, ‘The Lady is a Vamp’. Without warning she then slips her gown off on stage to reveal yet another glittering gown, this time silver with long black gloves.

\After reminding us of her meeting with Pauline Hanson years ago, she moves on to the Shirley Bassey classic ‘Nobody Does It Like Me’.

Carlotta and the rest of her girls were not allowed to sing at Les Girls. This is a shame as these sort of torch songs are perfect for her voice, which is strong and true.

Television series ‘Number 96’ played a huge part in her early life and she is quick to let us in on what really happened backstage during her time there.

The mood quickly changes to a more intimate personal tone and she shares her close relationship with Peter Allen, finishing with ‘Quiet Please, There’s a Lady Onstage’, a very poignant moment, beautifully rendered by both Carlotta and Michael Griffiths her pianist.

She finishes by asking us to help her sing ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ with an amazing finish on a high note. During this bracket, she makes yet another change into a red lace dress with masses of white boa.

Not only does Carlotta sing, she also lifts her skirts and gives us a short dance routine to ‘For Once in My Life’, receiving an ovation from the audience.

After discussing her time on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ she then moves on to a serious topic (one of the few in the show), gay rights. As she reminds us before singing the classic ‘As Time Goes By”, we are what we are and need to be accepted, not judged.

Carlotta not only works the audience from the stage she also walks around tables talking to the audience, focussing on their clothes and sexual orientation, which results in a lot of laughter.

Our audience with the living legend starts to come to an end, but not until question time, which included one fan’s sincere comment about Carlotta’s immense contribution to the arts and the gay scene.

Carlotta’s last two numbers sum up her life so far, the Frank Sinatra classic ‘I Did It My Way’ and the famous Sondheim number ‘I’m Still Here’, with words especially written for her.

I was struck with Carlotta’s ability to relate to every member of the audience and make them feel special. She may have a down to earth sense of humour (and that’s why we love her), but she also has style and this style has been learnt through a lifetime of experiences good and not so good.

Special mention needs to made of her Musical Director and accomplished cabaret performer in his own right, Michael Griffiths. He was there for her in every possible way, even helping her back onto the stage up the steps from the audience level and opening her wine for her. His accompanying and singing matched her material perfectly.

Carlotta says her show is for Mums and Dads and I don’t like to contradict her, but this is not true; Carlotta Queen of the Cross is for everyone who loves entertainment and perhaps a few life lessons as well.

Barry Hill