Naughty but nice

By Lilly O’Gorman
AFTER touring Japan with Cirque du Soleil for the past year, and spending five years performing in a Las Vegas ‘water spectacular’ Michaela O’Connor and her husband Sean Kempton are overjoyed to be back staying in the tiny township of Cardinia.
The husband and wife circus comedy duo are bringing their act, Dirty Mimes, to the Melbourne Comedy Festival next month and couldn’t be more thrilled.
Michaela is originally from Beaconsfield and said it will be the first time the show, which has been developed over five years during a stint performing in Las Vegas, has been performed as a cohesive one-hour piece.
Joining the couple on stage will be Michaela’s school-mate from St Francis Xavier College and Pakenham local, Michael Cooke, a performer and opera singer.
When explaining the ‘physical stand-up’ show, Michaela is quick to point out that it is true to its name and is not for young eyes and ears – especially the duo’s four-year-old daughter.
“We have to rehearse while she is not around!” Michaela said.
“It’s fast and pacey and we use a lot of irreverent comedy. It’s not for the faint-hearted basically. We just try and make people laugh.”
Michaela travelled to London in 1994 and secured one of 80 spots in a circus show to train as an aerialist. It was here that she discovered her love of circus performing and also met fellow aerialist, and future husband Sean.
The pair travelled to Las Vegas, and spent five years working in a large water spectacular when they first came up with the idea for Dirty Mimes.
“We were doing the same show over and over, so (to create some variety) we formed a cabaret called ‘Ok Ok’ and then from that we put together stuff, found out what worked, and from that we formulated Dirty Mimes,” she said.
“I think I’ve always been interested in comedy, and characters and performance. It felt like a natural progression to do it really.”
Luckily the pair’s work schedules aligned to allow the couple to bring Dirty Mimes to the Comedy Festival this year.
Sean has a two-month break before Cirque Du Soliel tours Europe and Michaela will perform as an aerialist at the London Olympics opening ceremony in July.
“We’re really pleased we can be back here and working. I’ve always loved the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, we’re really rapt to be involved,” Michaela said.
Dirty Mimes will be at Revolt Melbourne, 12 Elizabeth Street, Kensington, from 10 to 22 April. To book, call 9376 2115.