Hold on to your wine glasses as two delicious divas dish up a delectable feast of fabulous songs and divine duets in a show that will certainly entertain.
Presenting an eclectic cocktail of operatic highlights (with a twist!), classical and popular songs, sopranos Penny Shaw & Fiona Cooper Smyth will give you memorable morsels of music to tickle your taste buds and satisfy your senses.
Be mesmerized as these two colourful coloratura sopranos rival the role of Violetta as they sing the ultimate operatic party song “Sempre Libera” from Verdi’s La Traviata, or be enthralled as they take your through the heady heights of top d’s, e’s, and f’s in the tour de force of coloratura singing with The Queen of the Night’s aria from Mozart’s Magic Flute sung as a dynamic duet!
Sound bites from Carmen to Carmina Burana, this gourmet menu includes favourites such as “The Barcarolle” from The Tales of Hoffman; “The Flower Duet” from Lakme; and World Cup Hit “Nessun Dorma”, washed down with lighter melodies such as “Nella Fantasia” and hits from the world of musical theatre. From Mozart to Mamma Mia, Queen of the Night to Queen... anything goes! Ensure your windows are insured... DivaLicious are about to perform!
DIVALICIOUS – OPERA ROCKS!
Penny Shaw & Fiona Cooper Smyth play the duelling divas; competing for not only the top notes but also for handsome WA Opera baritone Robert “The Phantom” Hofmann’s affection! Opera’s greatest hits are given the DivaLicious treatment, accompanied by “perfection on piano”, Tommaso Pollio. This fully-staged, fast paced and highly original show changes mood and genre almost as frequently as the girls change their fabulous frocks; from Mozart to Mamma Mia, from Queen of the Night to Queen, anything goes!
NB: Opera Rocks has a second version with just Penny and myself as Duo with Penny & Fiona.
RUNNING TIME: Two halves (35mins and 40mins) with interval or a one hour show.
REVIEWS
“Smyth and Shaw blend terrifically together. The essence of major operatic or stage moments are enhanced but never compromised. Their vocal control and colour allows for snappy sketch-like delivery, choreography and imposed humour to be built like a scaffold around the traditional structure. Mozart’s transformed ‘Queen of the Night’ aria is a worthy example of such creativity and mix of performance skill.” Paul Nolan – SAG 2015
“Fiona Cooper Smyth and Penny Shaw had me in stitches as they rolled out one hilarious musical tableau after another. Perfect for opera newbies as well as aficionados who relish fine singing but just want a good laugh now and again. Loved it.” William Yeoman (The West Australian, Books Editor and Arts Writer)
"Two rival sopranos! Dramatic, funny, even poignant. A treat for those who love good singing and a good laugh. Go Divalicious!" Ben Elton on DivaLicious – Opera Rocks!
“A show-stopping act from start to finish! Great wads of comedy slapped between two divas!”Brian Dawson, lyricist
"Tears in my eyes; chills down my spine; roaring laughter; and a continuous smile on my face thanks to "Divalicious" last night! I thought I hated opera! Exquisite!!” Julia Ming, audience member
"A wonderful evening with the two divas and their sidekicks that delivered lots of endearing, enchanting and hilarious moments.” Carolyn Chard, General Manager West Australian Opera
DIVALICIOUS – LICENCE TO TRILL! – Now morphed into DivaLicious – Out of this World!
“Divalicious – Licence to Trill!” Get up close and personal with comic sopranos Penny Shaw and Fiona Cooper Smyth as they relive their "DivaLicious Journey" - cat fights in the chorus to close encounters with reality television. In a dramatic tale of friendship and rivalry, told through the hits of opera, musical theatre and the movies, dressing-room gossip is mixed with beautiful music and backstage banter....the perfect operatic cocktail: “shaken, not stirred!” Nominated for Best Cabaret, Fringe World Festival 2014.
RUNNING TIME: Two halves (35mins and 40mins) with interval or a one hour show.
Reviews
"An entertaining, laugh-out-loud production full of booze-fuelled cattiness and outstanding operatic vocals. These sultry soprano songstresses had the entire audience leaving in stitches after their classical renditions of hits like ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘My Heart Will Go On’. These two divas sure know how to put on a show!.....As someone who doesn’t listen to opera I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed myself and have urged many friends and family members to go down and ensure that they see DivaLicious!” Ryan Wright, Out In Perth
“While each is a wonderful singer in her own right, there is a rare magic in the way their voices blend and complement each other. What’s more, Shaw and Smyth bounce off each other like a pair of billiard balls in the hands of a master player – and that’s the amazing chemistry that makes this duo unique and memorable. From the moment they walked on in stunning gowns with sparkling bling, the pair had the audience in the palms of their hands. DivaLicious has a knack for shifting an audience’s feelings from laughter to deeper emotions and back again, often in the course of single aria.” Satima Flavell, Arts Hub 2014.
“Opera is often assumed to appeal to few people, people who have a deep understanding of the art, or have acquired this understanding by frequenting the opera. Divalicious, however, are here to prove this wrong. Their show, full of sharp satire and tongue-in-cheek humour, can be enjoyed the same by an amateur opera-goer or the most seasoned and discerning viewer.” Gautam Jadhav, Colosoul Magazine
“The cattiness is worked through during their history, and whilst it almost becomes deadly, in the end they have moved from rivals to friends. The audience is left on a high note, with a splash of champagne. The trills of winning voices and spills of blood, sweat, tears and champagne make this a winning humourous tale of amicable rivalry, one to be savoured note by note.” Carolyn Neumann, Sydney Arts Guide 2016
DivaLicious – Defying Gravity. NEW show which was almost sold out at Fringe World last year and 100% 5 star reviews
Mortality, vitality and virility are all under the knife as cutting-edge classics mix with the best of Broadway in this Botox-pumping, lipo-sucking, wrinkle-relaxing cabaret that will take years off your life! Join these comic cougars of coloratura in their latest hit show as they explore the dubious joys of being "midults" in a world which worships youthful beauty, smooth brows and skinny thighs. Accompanied by the groovy sounds of bass, drums and keyboard, DivaLicious Divas, Fiona Cooper Smyth and Penny Shaw will attempt to defy gravity, claw back their lost youth, and launch themselves into the stratosphere! High notes, heavenly bodies, the count-down has begun... M-rated. M for Mature, M for Mum's-night-out and M for More champagne. (NOT Menopause!)
"Fresh, funny, feminist, with fabulous frocks, DivaLicious - Defying Gravity is a celebration of a show, where the audience leave smiling and singing. Not to be missed." Kimberley Shaw
"Fiona Cooper Smith and Penny Shaw provide such a fantastic night out. They combine their two powerful soprano voices to tackle some songs that shock, make you laugh out loud, and make you feel insecure – in the best way possible. We are all going to have an experience with “gravity” one day. They transport you into a world of an untouched cabaret market which proves to be a goldmine of success." Dircksey Magazine 5 STARS
REVIEWS
"Best Show yet!" Brendon Ellmer, General Manager Perth Concert Hall
"No notes to give - you were both sensational - a great show!" Stuart Maunder, Artistic Director, South Australian Opera.
"Absolutely brilliant!" (Francince O'Rourke)
"I wet myself laughing!" (Ken from Mandurah) Directed by Nicole Stinton Musical Direction by David Wickham Bass and Guitar: Finn Pearson Drums: Barnabas Courtauld
DivaLicious - Duelling Divas! (Based on Opera Rocks show)- A unique combination of fast moving comedy and virtuosic singing as sopranos Penny and Fiona compete both for the top notes and the spotlight, then deliver heart-rending duets, moving the audience from side-splitting laughter to tears of poignancy and back again! Featuring the infamous Queen of the Night’s aria, The Flower Duet and Nella Fantasia among other, beginning and ending with a twist!
DivaLicious Go to Hollywood! (Based on “Divalicious - A Licence to Trill” show) Come on a glamorous tour of Hollywood as these sirens of song sing the biggest hits from the greatest epic blockbusters, old classics and of course with some James Bond, all in glorious harmony.
DivaLicious – Out of this World/Heavenly Voices Poignant songs to serenade your senses, perfect for special occasions and designed to make your event or ceremony out of this world.
DivaLicious - Prima Donna - Poignant songs to serenade your senses, perfect for special occasions and designed to make your event or ceremony out of this world.
Choose from the hits of Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, Lloyd-Webber and more as either Fiona or Penny are alone in the spotlight...sometimes one diva is all you need!
PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT DIVALICIOUS
To summarise, we are high quality sopranos who sing in glorious harmony. When appropriate, we provide an element of comedy as our signature DivaLicious comic twist! This is our point of difference from many other operatic groups or duos around. We were featured on Australia’s Got Talent 2012, The Voice 2014 and Ch 7’s The Morning Show. We have had three successful season at Sydney Opera House 2015 & 2016 with our full length shows and have sung at many prestigious events including The Ashes 2013 and 2017.
"Two rival sopranos! Dramatic, funny, even poignant. A treat for those who love good singing and a good laugh. Go Divalicious!"
Ben Elton, comedian, author, playwright, director
About their singing....
"Absolutely stunning! When you both harmonise, it is particularly beautiful."(Dannii Minogue, singer, actress, TV personality)
"You don't have to appreciate opera to appreciate how beautiful that was. From start to finish - a piece of magic!"Brian McFadden (pop singer from "Westlife", TV celebrity).
"You're like two angels. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Loved it. You know I don't like opera but anything done brilliantly and perfectly is everyone's thing...you've converted me!"(Kyle Sandilands, Radio & TV personality)
About their show...
"Two rival sopranos! Dramatic, funny, even poignant. A treat for those who love good singing and a good laugh. Go Divalicious!"
(Ben Elton, comedian, author, playwright, director)
"Great wads of comedy slapped between two divas! Showstopping act from start to finish!" (Jackson B Sutcliff, Lyricist)
"The amazing duo Divalicious - well-schooled, highly experienced opera singers… Moved (the audience) from riotous laughter to deep melancholy and back again, yet always with a light touch….. What was there not to love about this act?...Divalicious rocks!" (Carol Flavell Neist, Reviewer, ArtsHub)
PRODUCTION
DivaLicious can perform from the following menu:
1) Entrée option:OPENING/CLOSING/IN BETWEEN: a 10-15 minute opening segment of outstanding songs or operatic hits to launch an event.
2) Apperatifs:INCOGNITO: a 10-15 minute “mystery shopper/mystery guest” performance where DivaLicious burst into song in the middle of a crowd or at a function “Incognito!” thus creating a mini scene;
3) Main course option:CONCERT OR DURING DINNER: 1 or 2 hour (or two 30-40 minutes with interval) performance. Time and theme tailored to your requirements.
4) Dessert option:FEATURED SHOW:20- 30 minutes of DivaLicious
Venue:Inside with stage area and piano or backing with PA System (2 mics, mic stands, speakers, sound desk, fold back speaker). If we are outside or in a large room/ballroom where there are soft furnishing and no natural acoustic, mics will be required. Backing tracks can be used if no piano available.
ABOUT DIVALICIOUS
Both Fiona and Penny have a long list of credits to their names, regularly sing with WA Opera and have recently made TV appearances on Channel 7’s “Australia’s Got Talent” as finalists.
As experienced virtuoso sopranos, Fiona and Penny have performed internationally as soloists and as a duo nationally, amusing audiences with their mock-rivalry, humour, and poignancy with their stunning voices and popularizing the opera by singing well known arias and duets - adding their unique musical and theatrical touch to the performance.
As one reviewer said of their full-length show, "DivaLicious - opera rocks!" Are you ready to be touched by DivaLicious...?
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