First there was Overshare, now there is A Little Too Much Information. Cabaret performer Claire Healy returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with a show that looks at the aspects of our lives we tend to gloss over or just not pay much attention to. Fresh from Adelaide and Perth Fringe (where the show was nominated for Best Cabaret in the Perth Fringe World Weekly Award), Healy's quirky sense of humour and musical insight into life's smallest moments result in quite a hilarious experience for audiences."A Little Too Much Information is about love, loss, a deep connection with German discount supermarkets and my ability to continually make fairly poor life choices," Healy laughs. "I also sing a bit! The show is like when I get drunk at parties and tell strangers weird things about myself... except this time it's through song so it's more socially acceptable. It seems to be a thing I do a lot (both getting drunk at parties and getting overly honest), but I like that when I open it all up (metaphorically, of course), everyone else opens themselves up as well and we find out we're all secretly a bunch of weirdos. Truly excellent weirdos."
"Apparently my show is a good Tinder date show. Which is surprising, since a fair portion of the show is about ridiculously terrible man situations I've ended up in! I've had good chats with two first date couples at the show, both went on to second dates, and Jim declared his love on stage in front of a sold out crowd. Jim is a brave man. Brave, or had too many cocktails pre show... Both are entirely acceptable."
Apart from her charm and openness on stage, Healy has a number of talents at her disposal to unleash the inner weirdo inside us and flaunt it with pride. "There will be gin drinking, a pirate singalong, a greater understanding of the joy of Lord of the Rings, tales of terrible tinder dates, and blowing bubbles. My meth dealing ex also may get a little mention," she explains. "We'll probably all be besties by the end."
While audience members are encouraged to participate in A Little Too Much Information, Healy is quick to stress that it is not obligatory and no one will be chosen. "I really hate audience participation that makes people feel uncomfortable, so people are free to participate or not in the show. It's more of a group hug kind of participation than a force people to do weird things kind of participation! But saying that, most people are really ready to get involved!"
Either way, the show feeds of its audience. So the more you're willing to (over)share, the more rewarding the overall experience will be for everyone. On occasion, Healy has been surprised by what she hears. "I've heard so many wonderful stories. At the end of the show I play a musical game of Never Have I Ever which has had some pretty keen participants in the past. I've met people who have had sex on the bonnet of a police car, accidentally drank a tropical fish in a glass of milk and been shot by a farmer after waking up hungover in a mystery paddock," she recalls. 'But my personal favourite has to come from Perth, where a very respectable older lady declared 'never have I ever drawn lipstick on a man during a tantric session.' She may be the coolest person I've ever met."
FIVE QUICKIES
If you had to name your child after a vegetable what would it be?
I was in Bellingham, Washington State earlier this year at a warehouse variety circus show where I met a man smelling potently of weed named Kale. Not that.
Which reality TV show would you most like to appear/compete on? I think The Amazing Race. I like running around, and I'm intensely competitive. I may end up getting carried away and punching someone in the heat of the moment. But being a very non violent person, would probably try to stop myself punching them at the same time resulting in something resembling an assertive stroke. It would be incredibly ineffective, but would probably make for some interesting viewing.
The most irritating habit I have is my complete inability to disguise my face emotions. I am now banned from sitting in the front row of my friends fringe shows. I've been told.
What's a song that sums up your life?
Oooh, that is a tough one... Maybe Do You Wanna Dance? by the Beach Boys. Yes, Beach Boys. I always want to fucking dance.
While in Melbourne, I really really really want to drink all of the coffee. All of it. Especially if it comes with a little cup of fizzy water on the side. Love that shit.
Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne
Season: 22 March - 3 April | Tues - Sun 5.30pm,
Length: 60 minutes
Tickets: $32 Full | $28 Conc | $25 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: MICF website
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