2 Divas at the Bondi Pavilion reminded me of an old but true maxim about the theatre world. Sometimes it’s the fringe shows put together on a meager budget, and without any aspiration to be slickly professional, that are the shows that touch the heart the most.

The two Divas were Natalie Gamsu and Joanna Weinberg, well known performance artists from South Africa who have emigrated to Australia. Joanna emigrated in 1997 and Natalie emigrated in 2003, The short story is that these two ladies are close friends of many years standing, often performing as a duet, and came up with the idea of putting on a show in Sydney documenting their friendship, and their working partnership, which have withstood many ups and downs.

I enjoyed the low key, humanity of this production. The stage journey stretched from way back when their friendship first started and they were having their first stage successes up to the present where they have settled into middle age, and all that that entails, and still retaining their passion for musical theatre.

Two Divas had many good moments; the colourful banter in the dressing rooms… some great versions of songs, my favourites being renditions of Joni Mitchell’s ‘All I Want’ and Sweet Charity’s ‘I Got Rhythm’… some nice character stuff, showing Joanna as the flirtatious one, always being chased by the men, with Natalie being more laid back and enjoying the odd reefer…Joanna’s reading a poem she wrote about the fragility of friendship…and Natalie’s vivid, humorous portrayal of her Broadway audition where the gay director lambasted her for being past it, and looking too old and wrinkly.

There were some flat moments such as when Joanna attempted a deft touch at stand-up comedy, however on the whole Two Divas was a good night in the theatre. Natalie and Joanna were well accompanied by musical director and pianist Nigel Ubrihien, and double bass player, Steve Buchanan.