Flee- ing Frida

Kirsten Elliott was in Hobart and Launceston earlier this year when she played Frida in the tribute show‘ ABBA the Concert ‘The Gold Arrival tour’. Kirsten tells me she really likes “Tasmania and that the Theatre Royal is ‘so beautiful’ “.

Kirsten returns this month in ‘Seventh Wonder the Fleetwood Mac Experience’. The production has only been on the road for 4 months and feedback has been so good the production has expectation of becoming an annual event.

Kirsten believes Fleetwood Mac owe their longevity in part to their playing ‘real music’. Music that ‘has struck a chord with fans’ who have given their loyalty to the band.

Kirsten adds that the writing talents of Fleetwood Mac members Lindsay, Christine and of course Stevie Nicks, coming as they do from personal experience, are the ‘heartfelt, emotional lyrics that people can connect with’. Kirsten, who plays Stevie in the production, relates about mimicking that famous voice, chameleon in quality, moving from quite ‘husky, raspy, yet powerful and gutsy’.

‘Seventh Wonder’ takes its name from the Fleetwood Mac song of the same name although Kirsten isn’t sure why the manager chose that particular song to give the band its name, although it may possibly be because The Seven Wonders of the world have achieved legendary status, as have Fleetwood Mac.

On how Kirsten achieves the Stevie look, she tells me she is lucky to have the natural hair colour of Stevie Nicks and she supplements that with a clip on fringe. Kirsten is attired all in black including the famous tulle skirt and big black boots to complete the gothic garb. Kirsten says although she wore a top hat in the photo shoot for the tour promo it is a bit difficult to manoeuvre on stage when she is working the tambourine.

Kirsten hadn’t played the tambourine before and a bit like ‘patting your head and rubbing your tummy simultaneously, singing and playing the tambourine with its ‘different rhythm’ was a skill that took some time to conquer, although Kirsten adds doing so had the benefit of giving her arms a good workout!

Kirsten explains Stevie’s clothing choices on the fact she is ‘a very petite woman’ and wanted to’ dress herself big and out there’ to be ‘in your face’ to compensate for her physical slightness and have ‘a big presence’.

With a naturally bubbly personality Kirsten has to subdue herself a little to play Stevie and ‘take herself off to her own little world’ while performing as Stevie.

Kirsten compares performing in ABBA and Fleetwood Mac. ABBA she says are ‘very innocent’ and ‘high energy’ while Fleetwood Mac are a rock band with some of the attendant vices

However Kirsten enjoys performing both shows, even if perhaps, with her mum, a Fleetwood Mac fan’s influence Kirsten says Fleetwood Mac music is what she would listen to in her own private life.

You can see Kirsten perform as Stevie Nicks in the ‘Seventh Wonder the Fleetwood Mac Experience’ on:

Thu Oct 23 – Devonport Entertainment Centre | Devonport
Fri Oct 24 – Launceston Country Club | Launceston
Sat Oct 25 – Theatre Royal | Hobart
Paula Xiberras