The internationally renowned chanteuse Fiona Thorn strips the mask from the woman who created the ‘Brazilian Goddess’ Pastel Vespa to present her new show FAIS-MOI MAL, JOHNNY (Hurt Me, Johnny).

FAIS-MOI MAL, JOHNNY explores the lure of dark French ‘chansons’ for a young Anglo-Saxon who wore black, took herself tremendously seriously, and was romantically obsessed with emotional torture and pain.

Featuring hip French songs of alcohol, love and other forms of abuse, the show explores the question; why is being young so agonising, and what happens to the intensity once you stop reflexly drinking kirs at 10 o’clock in the morning?

As a student at the Sorbonne in the late ‘80s, Fiona was determined to live the extremes that she found in the passion of French music. “I spent some time as an alcoholic in a posh Paris suburb; tried to remember I was well brought-up when offered wine at my French friends’ family dinners (mostly unsuccessfully); and narrowly avoided being strangled by a girl in a laundromat.”

French singer Enzo Enzo’s words ‘an artist's purpose in life is to dare to be his or her own self’ has helped inspire Fiona to return to her first love; the passion of singing French songs.

The show will introduce Melbourne audiences to the genius of French singer-songwriters such as the tortured Barbara, the satirical and provocative Boris Vian as well as rare treats from the iconic legend Serge Gainsbourg. Their styles range from the passionate, dramatic and melodic to the witty, cynical and jazzy.

This is a very rare opportunity to hear such gems performed by one of the best cabaret performers in the country, with the added allure of a string ensemble, in the intimate setting of The Butterfly Club.

‘A voice to die for’ – The Scotsman

‘Fiona Thorn’s voice could melt butter’ – The Bulletin


The Butterfly Club
204 Bank Street, South Melbourne
Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 March
All shows at 9.00 pm
Duration: 70 minutes
Tickets: $20
Bookings: Telephone 9690 2000 or online at www.thebutterflyclub.com

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