A big man with a big voice: Desperately Young At Heart!

An outrageously original and award-winning musical comedy cabaret!

The imposing frame of 6 foot 6 inch, operatic baritone Robert Hofmann will channel (or is that Chanel?) a spectacular array of hilarious characters – and one of them in 4 inch heels! The show is DESPERATELY YOUNG AT HEART, and it makes its Melbourne premiere after an award-winning season at Perth Fringe World.

The hit show features (among other colourful characters) an Irish nun, a ‘gifted’ church musician and a sexually-frustrated German relationship counsellor: all young at heart, all desperate, and all comic alter egos of singer Robert Hofmann in slick quick-change costumes by Cherie Hewson. Plus the magic fingers of Tommaso Pollio on piano, direction by the legendary Stuart Maunder and special guest singer Cherie Boogaart.

Winner of the Cabaret Award WA at Perth Fringe World, Hofmann’s sensational tour-de-force plays at The Butterfly Club in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.

You’ll meet Dr Kay Overit, singing teacher and key-note speaker; Helmut Wunderlicher, a sexually frustrated singer turned relationship counsellor; Susan Higgins, a guitar playing church musician; and Sister Maureen Virgillious, an opera singer who took the veil and started teaching in the vain hope of escaping the bitchiness of the singing profession!

They sing an eclectic mix of songs including the Sinatra-esque, Richard Rodgers, classic music theatre numbers, a Schumann song and even an original retro pop song called “You are the Subject of My Next Sexual Fantasy” written by Robert especially for this show.

Robert Hofmann is a versatile singer who has starred for the West Australian Opera (The Mikado, Die Fledermaus, Orpheus) as well as on the classical concert platform and in cabaret (Divalicious). Costume designer Cherie Hewson has decades of elite credits to her name including the Edinburgh and NY Fringe, while at the keyboard is experienced maestro Tommaso Pollio. And to complete the ‘A Team’, famous Australian and international opera and theatre personality Stuart Maunder pulls the directorial strings.

If you’ve ever suffered hearing lousy church music, wished you’d had more fun in your 20s, have already turned 40 (or might do one day)… then this is the show for you!

“Truly inspired and brilliant from beginning to end… The characters, content and timing – especially if you are in the know about singers, singing teachers and music – are beyond hilarious” – Joseph Nolan, West Australian Opera

What: Desperately Young At Heart

Where: 5 Carson Place, off Lt. Collins St, Melbourne

When: 30 September – 5 October 2014

Showtimes: 30 Sep, 1 Oct and 5 Oct @ 8pm; 2, 3 & 4 Oct @ 9pm
We have two double passes to giveaway for the Saturday 4 October 9pm performance. For your chance to win, simply tell us in 25 words or less why you would love to go to this show!