Lisa LaCelle’s Mercedes DeLuca-Jones welcomes us into her glitzy, glamorous life as a Really Real Housewife from Surfers Paradise.
After the success of the ‘Real Housewives’ franchise around the world, Mercedes DeLuca-Jones believes it’s finally her time to be a star. A television producer is looking to cast the Real Housewives of Surfers Paradise, and so Mercedes needs an audition tape to make TV glory a reality (no pun intended). The audience is invited to take part in the video shoot, which includes gossip, song and a long-suffering accompanying pianist.
Mercedes is gold-drippingly wealthy, and lives with an overweight husband she tolerates when necessary and two Japanese exchange students she gives an excellent deal on rent. She has two close friends, one is the ghost of a dead designer and the other is another society maven with poor plastic surgery. Richie, the ghost, talks to her throughout the performance, a creative mechanism that doesn’t always work.
At the beginning of the show, Mercedes is on top of the world. She has a husband, friends and a toy boy flirtation. As the show progresses, Mercedes’ fabulous life begins to fray at the seams, spiraling down into loss of dignity when a fortuitous phone call saves both her self-esteem and her social status.
The show is delightful and lighthearted. LaCelle’s ‘darhling!’ accent is perfect, and her character is both charming and likeable. She interacts very well with the audience, and has a great comedic foil in her pianist. Throughout the hour-long show, LaCelle performs beloved ‘90s hits, changing the words to fit the story of the show.
There are a couple of off notes, a couple of jokes that fall flat. A few jokes about her exchange students seem racist, which may be meant to demonstrate Mercedes’ lack of political correctness, or how out of touch she is with normal society, but they were a little cringe-worthy.
That aside, it is a wonderful, funny show. Mercedes is a larger than life and fully believable character. She is well worth a visit but don’t forget to take in your glass of champagne!
At the beginning of the show, Mercedes is on top of the world. She has a husband, friends and a toy boy flirtation. As the show progresses, Mercedes’ fabulous life begins to fray at the seams, spiraling down into loss of dignity when a fortuitous phone call saves both her self-esteem and her social status.
The show is delightful and lighthearted. LaCelle’s ‘darhling!’ accent is perfect, and her character is both charming and likeable. She interacts very well with the audience, and has a great comedic foil in her pianist. Throughout the hour-long show, LaCelle performs beloved ‘90s hits, changing the words to fit the story of the show.There are a couple of off notes, a couple of jokes that fall flat. A few jokes about her exchange students seem racist, which may be meant to demonstrate Mercedes’ lack of political correctness, or how out of touch she is with normal society, but they were a little cringe-worthy.
That aside, it is a wonderful, funny show. Mercedes is a larger than life and fully believable character. She is well worth a visit but don’t forget to take in your glass of champagne!
