DIVA sat down with Luke Farrugia who plays all seven divas in this glorious new show
BY PHOEBE IRIS, IMAGES BY DANNY KAAN
Frank’s Closet takes place on the eve of Frank’s wedding. At the insistence of his soon-to-be husband, he must make room in his closet by donating his collection of fabulous diva dresses.
As Frank reminisces about the garments, he is visited by seven divas who counsel him through song. Can Frank move forward, even if it means losing his divas? Does he want to?
This week, DIVA spoke to Luke Farrugia, who plays all seven divas, about his experience working on the show.
DIVA: Why is Frank’s Closet an important story?
The original production of Frank’s Closet was in 2009 before same-sex marriage was legal in the UK but on the precipice of that change. There have been some rewrites, our show is different from its 2009 incarnation because it has to be; things have changed since then. Born out of that place, it asks, ‘We have received this heteronormative institution, but what does it mean to us? Where do we stand?’
Love comes in many different forms and who knows if marriage is the right answer for anyone. At its heart, it’s a show about queer marriage and queer relationships to marriage.
How do you define ‘a diva’?
A diva is never really self-imposed. Nobody calls themselves a diva, it’s imposed by the fans. A diva is a goddess, someone we put on a pedestal and look up to. They are larger than life, the fullest expression of gender. They never fit in, and they do what they want. They’re icons.
Why do you think the queer community gravitates towards these women?
Speaking from experience, I think it’s the fullness of life that these women tend to embody. All the divas in our show were treated terribly by the public and yet they still came out on stage singing. We find catharsis in them.
In the show, you play seven different divas. How did you prepare for the role?
I like to get into character from the outside in. As a man playing a woman, the last thing I want to do is present a caricature on stage that would be insulting to the audience.
First, I learned all the music and made sure to have that down before rehearsals started. I listened to the divas’ music and soaked that in. I made a scrapbook with facts from their lives and notes on their voice, mannerisms, and movements, which I would analyse to get into character. The history and context were really important in creating seven (hopefully) very distinct divas.
What do you hope the audience takes from the show?
I hope they think, ‘I had a blast.’
We’re trying to tell a story, but it’s also not that deep. We’ve got bangers, queer iconography, amazing dances, feathers, capes, glitter, the most ridiculous dresses. Just enjoy it, and let’s have a party!
Frank’s Closet is playing at the Union Theatre until 30 March. Find out more here: http://uniontheatre.biz/show/franks-closet/
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
