Described as a 'comedy cabaret for the over-committed', Belinda Raisin stars in 'Confessions Of A Control Freak', a show that is sure to knock your socks off.
The story in a nutshell is this: Frances (played by the irrepressible Raisin) is caught in the rat trap of this multi-tasking, multi-vitamin, multi-media modern era. When she attempts to trade now now NOW for a little namaste, her carefully-controlled existence rapidly unravels, revealing the virtues of procrastination and the joys of mixing yoga and alcohol. Former ballerina and self-confessed control freak Belinda Raisin is joined by pitch-perfect pianist Jamie Teh in a cabaret that marries graceful, gangly physical humour with moving authentic honesty.
Describe the show in five words?
Frantic, funny, quirky, relatable, honest.
Fav. line in the show?
'It's a good feeling surviving bikram yoga - mastering the mind; standing in the shower afterwards wiping up dead skin cells and hard-earned sweat and I must confess there is a teeny tiny smug feeling of satisfaction - that my exercise, for the day, is out of the way before my husband is even out of bed!'
Craziest moment on stage?
Rollerblading through the audience serving up glasses of red wine.
Fill in the blanks:
Confessions will make you... laugh at the absurdity of your control freakish ways but will never... make you feel like the biggest freak in the room however is surprisingly... filled with almost as many shoe changes as musical genre changes (and that's a lot) and don't forget to... bring a notepad, you might feel compelled to write a list. Bring your control freak To add this show to your must see list. Book your tickets asap!
How did this show come about?
My pursuit of perfection was thwarting my attempts to slow down the busy pace of my life and achieve work/ life balance. When I saw the humour in the chaos I was creating, I thought "what perfect material for a comedy cabaret!"
What sort of prep (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual) do you do before performing?
1. Stretch my body
2. Make a lot of weird noises
3. Apply make-up and costume with military precision
4. Check props a million times
5. Speak the multiple tongue-twisting lines from the show as fast as I can
6. Remind myself to breathe
How did your training/ life experience/ choices lead you to this moment?
I used to be a ballet dancer. That consolidated my control-freakish tendencies. I've been trying to let go ever since. I became an actor, hated waiting on tables and waiting for the phone to ring with the next job opportunity, so I created one for myself.
What are some of your most embarrassing or unbelievable stories about being a control freak?
Went to yoga to relax, unwind and 'go with the flow' and ended up training for Bikram Yoga Championships.
Best advice about life, love or your career you've received?
Shit happens. Life's a marathon, not a sprint.
What do you want audiences to say as they leave?
"She's just like me!!"
Anything else readers should know?
Side effects may include: Night sweats, IBS, constant gnawing, soul-destroying worry about the task at the bottom of your list.
See Belinda embody her chaotic character Frances in 'Confessions Of A Control Freak', staged at the Judith Wright Centre from July 15-17.
