• Penny Shaw and Fiona Cooper Smyth. Photos supplied

OPERA singer Fiona Cooper Smyth’s vision for Defying Gravity was celestial music of the highest order.

But singer partner Penny Shaw kept coming up with amusing twists on the songs.

“I just heard lifting your boobs up and getting botox,” she laughs.

Lip-sucking

The final result is a botox-pumping, lip-sucking, wrinkle-relaxing cabaret that will have you rolling in the aisles.

“She completely ruined my idea,” Cooper Smyth sighs.

Better known as Divalicious, the duo have been making the world of opera accessible for years.

When they first met they were rivals on the opera scene, but they quickly bonded over tears, tantrums and a warped sense of humour.

Defying Gravity puts mortality, vitality and virility under the knife as opera classics mingle with the best of Broadway.

“We claw back the years to explore the dubious joys of being ‘midults’, in a world that worships youth and beauty, flawless skin and stick-like figures,” the pair say.

Like Les Miserables’ End of the Day (You’re Another Day Older), Don’t Cry For Me Argentina is a riotous parody and will have you crying with laughter.

“Women of a ‘certain age’ have a lot to put up with,” Shaw says.

“Approaching this subject with our usual irreverence we have put a new twist on some classic songs, rewritten lyrics and made some new discoveries that deal with this delicate subject matter in a humorous way.

“Fiona and I have had great fun creating this show and making it M rated. M for Mature, M for Mums, and M for More Champagne and chocolate please.”

Best ever

Defying Gravity is Divalicious’ fourth show in eight years and they reckon it will be their best ever.

“It’s certainly the most outrageous,” Cooper Smyth says.

“So if any of these words strike a chord…put down your knitting, or your iPhones, book a ticket and come along for a rumpus ride recapturing life as we once knew it.”

Part of Fringe World, Defying Gravity is at the De Parel Spiegeltent in Russell Square from January 29-February 3.

Tickets at fringeworld.com.au

by JENNY D’ANGER