Lizzie Murray
Musical comedian Troubadette (Rose Duxfield) presents her first solo Fringe Festival show Where’s Your Hot Friend? at Courtenay Creative. Her quirky folk songs are almost as sweet as the M&M cookies she dishes out before taking to the stage with her sidekicks: a stuffed-toy dragon and a guitar named Cheryl.
Troubadette’s songs highlight sexuality and body positivity. A particular favourite song described a drunken night ending in “eating chinese food, alone, by a river.” The songs were funny if at times a bit repetitive. I wish I could hear more story in her song, more of her colourful verses.
Nerves unfortunately interrupted opening night with forgotten lyrics and awkward transitions. Lines were spoken too quickly, they needed to be more like the funny, chatty parts.
I appreciated the raw and open discussions of sexuality, body shaming and how she bounced back from her divorce. Harnessing negative energy into her music was beautiful to see. Exploring the fear of being a secondary character in one’s own life prompts Duxford to create her own Disney princess character. As Troubadette she is a blue-haired badass and not forgotten.
I would like to see Troubadette push the Disney princess narrative she touch on briefly during the set. She would refer to her sad dragon sidekick and comically complain at how useless they are. I was waiting for the dragon eventually offer some advice to our princess when she recounts hard times. I am eager to see a season where Troubadette take us on a magical journey with her dragon standing up against the villainous bigots and body shamers. Alas, the show was minimal in narrative and leans more on a conversational stand up structure.
If you like cheeky feminist folk music, you can find this blue-haired princess perform at various comedy shows in wellington like the Wellington Feminist Poetry Club and The Comedy Show with Good Comedians In It. You can also check out her talent on her YouTube channel.