Ruby Teys is carving out her place in the comedy scene with a unique blend of humour and life's unexpected twists.
It all started with a bizarre encounter with a psychic who, in a twist of fate, warned her against rescuing dogs. Little did she know, this encounter would pave the way for her comedic journey, culminating in her upcoming solo show, ‘Dog C**t’ at Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
While portraying Bali's most iconic big sister Mercedes Corby in the musical 'Schapelle, Schapelle!', Teys recounts the genesis of 'Dog C**t': "I found a business card on the floor, and it said, 'Channel Seven's Favourite Psychic’, and I was like ‘what the hell is this?’… I text the number and she says, ‘Ruby, I've been waiting for you’. . .”
Describing her interaction with the psychic, Teys recounts how the prophet predicted a last-minute cancellation and welcomed her with open arms. But it was the dog-centric warnings that left Ruby bewildered.
With humour and candour, Teys tells, "[the psychic’s] like, 'you've got to stop rescuing dogs. Lie with dogs, rise with fleas. There's a man coming for you. He's got a dog. Beware of the dog. Dogs, dogs, dogs. He's gonna be as crooked as a dog's hind leg. You're in for real shock because there's a huge dog c... coming'.” Over the following 12 months, Teys discovered all the ways dogs had attempted to ruin her life, yet she’s emerged to share her story.
Teys tantalises audiences with a sneak peek of what's in store. “Without giving away too much, I met Schapelle Corby’s dog, it was a nice dog, except for when it met me. I was like, 'oh, no, it's sniffing me out. It knows that I’m an imposter. It knows I'm here just for a photo. It knows that I’ve built half my career on doing a parody musical on this woman's life'.”
Sensing her ulterior motives, the dog's reaction was less than welcoming. Teys drops hints of a dramatic retaliation, playfully teasing audiences to attend the show for all the juicy details. She elaborates, "there was juice, and it might have come out of my own c...!"
Teys’ feelings about her upcoming solo show are a mix of excitement and nervousness. She's determined to make it a success, knowing the competitive nature of the comedy world. While she's aware of the challenges and uncertainties, she remains focused on staying true to herself and delivering a performance that resonates with her audience.
Looking ahead, Teys has ambitious plans for her show. She's eager to take it to Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, Brisbane, and beyond, especially with the prospect of Mercedes and Schapelle joining to sell merch. Perth, with its affinity for Bali, is also on her radar.
As for her ultimate dream? Teys envisions continuing to share her show for the next year and beyond, with hopes of one day earning an Oscar nomination for being "the funniest, most humble, down-to-earth, hot, saucy, minx bitch that ever lived."
With a playful wink, she adds, "I'd absolutely love to land a role in a TV show or movie right after ('Dog C**t') because, let's face it, that's the ultimate luxury compared to the Australian comedy circuit."
Ruby Teys plays The Greek – The Library (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) 28 March-21 April.
