Dangerous When Wet: New Musical Celebrates Trailblazing Swimmers Fanny Durack & Mina Wylie

The musical Dangerous When Wet celebrates the friendship and rivalry of swimmers Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie – and their fight to represent Australia at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics where they won Gold and Silver respectively in the 100m women’s freestyle. 

The musical is narrated by Australia’s first Hollywood superstar and originator of the one-piece women’s swimming costume, Annette Kellerman. 

The show is billed as “a hilarious and touching vaudeville-styled musical” that will have audiences laughing, crying, singing along and rejoicing in Australia’s swimming history. 

Co-writer Eliane Morel (with Merran Hughes) tells me the show is set in the early 20th century in an Australia where women were really starting to spread their wings. They had just got the vote; they were starting to swim in one-piece swimsuits instead of heavy bloomers and corsets; they were fighting to swim at mixed pools with men; and they were finding a voice and a way to express themselves intellectually and physically. 

However, there was resistance from the establishment, the church, many men and even some women, who were frightened at the prospect of women having all this freedom. In fact, one of the fiercest opponents was Rose Scott, President of the NSW Amateur Ladies Swimming Club, who objected to the girls swimming at the Olympics on moral grounds. They would be wearing almost nothing, in front of men! 

Trailblazers Fanny and Mina were the first women to ever represent Australia at the modern Olympics, when liberated Stockholm was the first country to host the 100m women’s freestyle. Fanny and Mina were among the first women in the world to compete in this event. 

Also, along with the Australian men’s team (and Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, representing the USA), they were also among the first to use the “Australian” crawl at the Olympics. This stroke had been used by First Nations people in Australia and the Pacific for millennia and was taught to Australia’s swim team by Solomon Islander Alick Wickham). Annette Kellerman was obviously a trailblazer too, and someone the girls looked up to.

Fanny was the first to break a world record in the 100m women’s freestyle in her heat at the Olympics. And then, to top it all off, Fanny and Mina were the first to win Gold and Silver. Afterwards, they went on to hold and break record after record. Both were huge advocates for swimming, and Mina taught at Wylie’s Baths and Pymble Ladies College for many decades. 

These extraordinary women broke through many barriers to achieve what they did, so in many respects, they were “dangerous”!  

A small team of four creates and produces the show. They all wear multiple hats. Eliane Morel is the writer / producer and also performs a small role. Merran Hughes is also a writer / producer, and designed the sets and costumes. Joanna Weinberg is the composer / lyricist and director, and Daryl Wallis is the musical arranger and musical director. 

The show features an amazing all-female cast and, in true vaudeville fashion, the male roles are played by women in drag. 

There are 12 shows at Randwick Town Hall from 8 to 18 October. Tickets are already on sale and flying out the door.