Beloved Australian performers Normie Rowe and Denise Drysdale have returned to the stage together in their new show The Two of Us, a trip down memory lane coming to Geelong this weekend.
The pair have known each other since the 60s, when Rowe was an emerging pop star and Drysdale was a go-go dancer on pop music TV show Kommotion.
While Drysdale went on to enjoy a long-running and continuing career as one of Australia’s television darlings, Rowe was drafted into national service at the height of his pop stardom in 1968.
While anti-war sentiment effectively put an end to his pop career after his return, Rowe continued to perform, adding television and musical theatre roles to his repertoire and participating in many charities and community groups.
Rowe said he and Drysdale were both delighted to be working with each other again.
“We’ve been really good friends since we were teenagers and both of us are in our 70s now; if anything lasts a long time it’s got to be good,” he said.
“(In the) early days, we were just I guess 17 or so when we met. Denise had been doing some dancing on television and I’d just started to hit my straps with a television show called the Go!! Show.
“The green room was a great place to meet each other; waiting to go on to do your bit. People like Johnny Young, Olivia Newton John, Pat Carroll and Yvonne Barrett, Joy Lemmon, Ronnie Burns and Ronnie Charles, Billy Thorpe and Ray Brown.
“(Drysdale) is just a hilarious person; what you see is what you get.”
Rowe said audiences responded to the natural warmth between the two friends.
“We started this show towards the end of last year in Queensland, and we found that there was such a wonderful synergy,” he said.
“The general vibe is sit back, relax, have fun and just enjoy the night. From my point of view, I want to bring some memories.
“We’re really excited about coming to Geelong, the whole area is just a marvellous place. When you get outside the major cities people are less stressed and ready for a great night’s entertainment.”
The Two of Us will be at Geelong’s Sphinx Hotel on Saturday, July 1. For tickets and more information visit events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/the-two-of-us-starring-normie-.
