'Songs By Kylie' documents the pop princess's early days through to her rise to stardom. Michael says he switches between faithful renditions of her songs to exciting new reworks.
“We have fun and it's not just songs as you know them. I do a mash-up of INXS' 'Need You Tonight' and 'What Do I Have To Do', which is heaven... To talk about Michael Hutchence and then suddenly we're doing an INXS mash-up.”
“I think some songs are basically perfection... 'Better The Devil You Know' is perfection so I do it really faithfully and so is 'I Should Be So Lucky'. That song IS 1988.”
The show took around half a year to piece together, and with Michael being an avid Kylie fan, it wasn't too difficult to create a night like this.
He reflects on its beginnings.
“I worked with a music director and a writer, so between the three of us we spent over six months putting it together bit by bit and then I had a five-piece band that first did it at Adelaide Cabaret Festival a couple of years ago.
“So I now tour with that band on a USB because you can't take five musicians to a Fringe! It's sort of partly cheating but I figure if it's the only way I can do it, it's better than not at all. I play live keys and I sing live, of course, but I have my band on a stick.”
With his band on a stick and his hand on his heart, Michael embraces the performance he has created.
Not only is it a glowing reflection on the legacy of a woman most of Australia (if not all of it) is familiar with, but Michael says there's another pretty stellar selling point...
“It's super gay. Every show I've done has been pretty gay but this one out-gays. I've done a Madonna show but this is gayer. It's way gayer. It's super camp but it's also affectionate, it comes from a place of genuine affection. If I didn't actually love her, it would be a different show.”
He's a worthy adversary to take on a show celebrating such a successful musical force, with his own Helpmann award up his sleeve, won in 2016. Though it was clearly deserved, Michael humbly admits he certainly wasn't expecting it.
“I was sat in the second row and all my colleagues that were nominated were up in the dress circle and I remember thinking, 'oh f..., I think that means I'm going to win it'. I had every emotion... I was in tears at one point, I was laughing, I was maniacal, but I never really thought I would win it until the night.”
“It's lovely to have acknowledgment. There was something else insightful I had to say... But it's gone,” Michael laughs.
He has plenty to say about his love for Kylie Minogue, however. This alone should be an indication that his production is injected with the most dizzying and delicious concoction of dancing, singing, humour, and pure unbridled adoration.
“Euphoric. Euphoric is the right word,” Michael ponders, reflecting on 'Songs By Kylie'.
“You should come out feeling uplifted by the euphoria of pop music.”
