JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA

With its histrionics, high-pitched hullabaloos and multitude of fat ladies, the Jerry Springer talk show was practically custom built for operatic reincarnation. It smashed the box offices in London and New York, where veteran actor Harvey Keitel came out of Broadway-retirement especially. And now it’s set to wow Sydney, in a frantic collision of high and low-culture, with stars David Wenham (as Springer) and Kate Miller-Heidke (as Baby Jane) thrown in the heady mix. It’s an all-singing, all-swearing production (149 expletives at last count) that features an eight-piece band plus 21 low-lifes keen to put some spicy highs into yours. Gale Edwards, the woman behind the cheeky Rocky Horror Picture Show revival, heads up the direction with a ‘no-holds-barred’ attitude on par with the show itself. Anything with nappy fetishists, dancing Klansmen and a Jesus who admits he is “just a little bit gay” has definitely got our vote. 

April 21-26. Sydney Opera House. $89-$129, 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com