Fans can see Australian comedy icon Effie - alongside her immaculately conceived daughter Aphrodite and her womanising yet lovable Uncle Vasili - at the mother of all weddings this April through June at encore shows in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. For the first time ever, Effie - The Virgin Bride will also be coming to Adelaide and Darwin. This multimedia extravaganza full of music, dancing, and audience interaction is bound to be a night youse won’t forget!
The much-anticipated encore season kicks off at the Regal Theatre on Friday 28 April, for the first of two Perth Comedy Festival shows; going on to seasons at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in May, and Sydney’s newly opened, world class International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour in June, followed by two nights at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide for Adelaide Cabaret Festival, before wrapping up at the Darwin Entertainment Centre on Saturday 24 June.
‘An extraordinary show! Take your partner, take your best mate, even take your mum, but maybe don't take your priest’ – Australian Stage
‘Sharp, funny and fearless’ – The Daily Review
Last year’s debut season of Effie - The Virgin Bride saw Coustas performing her three charmingly unconventional characters (Aphie, Uncle Vasili, and of course, Effie) for a mammoth ten nights at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, with four shows added to meet public demand, as well as sold out shows at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre; proving that after almost three decades in entertainment, the public still cannot get enough of Mary and her outrageous yet lovable characters.
In Effie - The Virgin Bride fans can look forward to meeting Aphrodite, Effie’s five year old immaculately conceived cute little boofhead daughter, who unknowingly reveals Effie’s biggest secrets to us. Nothing is sacred. Aphie’s infectious innocence reminds us that the truth is never more entertaining than when uttered from the mouths of babes.
Coustas will also play Uncle Vasili, Effie’s womanising and loveable uncle who has flown in from Greece especially for Effie’s wedding. His poignant and candid confession about his life, marriage and the price he’s paid for his after hour activities somehow makes this short, unattractive, politically-incorrect man oddly endearing and completely unforgettable. As Mary says, “Vasili is my love letter to short, middle-aged, delusional Greek men.” Of course, Australia’s favourite Greek Goddess and the original Bacheloreffe Effie will also take to the stage.
‘Crass, domineering, groin-obsessed and egotistical, Effie is also irresistibly lovable’ – The Age
★★★★ ‘Effie can still wow an audience … she will never be a wog out of work’ – Herald Sun
‘Coustas mines her much-loved character's catchphrases much to the crowd’s delight … bringing a freshness and modern relevance to her creation’ – Sydney Morning Herald
Mary Coustas has been loved by Australian audiences since she first brought her most loved character Effie to the public in the hugely successful theatre production Wogs Out Of Work. Coustas’ portrayal of Effie has since landed her a Logie for Most Popular Comedy Personality in 1993, a Variety Heart Award as voted by her industry peers, a Top 20 single with her duet Amigos Para Siempre alongside Norman Gunstan, a book Effie’s Guide To Being Up Yourself and a record deal in 2015 with Effie’s Classic 90s Hits.
Coustas has also brought Effie to the stage numerous times since her inception in Wogs Out Of Work, appearing in Effie X-Posed, and later in acclaimed one-woman shows, Waiting For Effie and A Date With Effie. Outside of Effie, Coustas has also gained high praise for her portrayal of a dog in the Sydney Theatre Company’s Sylvia, appeared on TV in Skirts, Wildside, Grass Roots, The Secret Life of Us and Rake 2. On the big screen she has starred in Nirvana Street Murder, Hercules Returns, and received an AFI nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Mull.
In 2013, Coustas released her autobiography All I Know, sharing her story of a decade of IVF treatments, tragedy and motherhood at 49, touching the nation’s heart with her appearance on 60 Minutes.
Now, in Effie - The Virgin Bride, the public will see more of the woman behind Effie, as Coustas takes a moment to step outside of her most known creation to connect with her audience live on stage. She tells the story of her most crippling moment on stage years earlier, and how her audience brought her back from giving up what she loved most - performing.
Don’t miss your chance to see Australia’s favourite Greek Goddess gain a husband and lose a cherry in the encore season of this stage sensation! Tickets are on sale Friday 10 February – don’t miss out!
PERTH COMEDY FESTIVAL
Regal Theatre, Perth
Fri 28 Apr & Sat 29 Apr
Show starts: 9:00pm
Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
Fri 5 May, Sat 6 May, Sun 7 May
Show starts: 7pm & 9:30pm (Fri, Sat) / 5pm & 7:30pm (Sun)
Darling Harbour Theatre ICC, Sydney
Sat 8 Jul | Show starts: 7pm & 9:30pm
ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL *
Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
Wed 21 Jun & Thu 22 Jun
Show starts: 7.30pm
Entertainment Centre, Darwin *
Sat 24 Jun | Show starts: 7pm
* Not Frontier Touring shows
All shows: All Ages