Comedy Preview: Wau Wau Sisters promise to give it “full on”

The Wau Wau Sisters may not be how your grandma remembers vaudeville, but they’re the contemporary touring entertainment act that most nearly invokes the saucy genre popular at the turn of the 20th century. New Yorkers Tanya Gagné and Adrienne Truscott’s show has been described as cabaret meets Cirque du Soleil meets Andrew Dice Clay meets a strip club — and even “… like ‘The Vagina Monologues’ on acid” according to a recent New England IN Newsweekly article. The often-controversial show (read: for adults without major religious, political or sexual hang-ups only) mixes foul-mouthed comedy with titillating circus acrobatics, including a Catholic school-girl-on-girl routine on a trapeze to Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian.” (For a closer look, check out www.wauwausisters.com.) LEO caught up with the Wau Wau Sisters last week and received an earful of double-entendres and debauchery. Below is everything that’s fit to print.

LEO: So what can Louisville audiences expect?
Tanya Gagné: They can expect the unexpected. They can expect an explosion of color and props and language and virtuosity. They can expect to be thrilled and … what else … enchanted!
Adrienne Truscott: We haven’t been to Louisville yet! We’ll give you a great time, and we leave lots of room for to be specific to the town.

LEO: Your show has taken you overseas many times. Are those audiences different than American audiences?
TG: Generally, we have fun with anyone wherever we go. The London audience, they really like you to talk to them. They’re definitely an audience you need to engage — they just don’t like to see spectacle. The Brits want to be chatted up. The Aussies just want to have a party and a good time. The American audience is somewhere in between. The general rule with any audience, though, is you have to make sure that you’re really having a good time so they can have a good time.
AT: It’s been interesting to be an American abroad right now. It’s just so fascinating how many people think our current administration is buffoonery. It’s refreshing to hear that — and a little embarrassing.

LEO: Do you tailor your show depending where you’re at? Have you ever crossed a line?
AT: We once played a street show in New Zealand in a city called Christchurch. So, yes, we had to tone a few things down. I think we’ve found clever ways to get stuff out there that crosses the line, but doesn’t necessarily offend.
TG: We don’t like to censor at all, and we’ve definitely rode the line in some places. But I think people understand that we’re good girls with good hearts. We may not know what’s appropriate or not appropriate, but we’d never do something to insult someone.
In the Bible Belt, we may not do our “Sister Christian” routine, you know? Oh, except for Louisville. You guys are going to get it full on. Since we haven’t been there, we’re just gonna lay it on ya.

LEO: OK, let’s have it — Obama or Hillary?
TG: Oooh, it is the heated question, isn’t it? I’m batting for Hillary but wouldn’t be too sad if Obama made it in. I just hope it doesn’t get too nasty.
AT: I have really mixed feelings about the primaries and how premature they’ve been. I want my options open longer before I have to decide between them. I’d like them to be on the same ticket.

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