Bringing Prince to life on stage

IT WAS a hit at this year’s Adelaide Fringe and now Fiona Unger is bringing her hit show to local audiences with a performance at the Woolstore Brewery this Friday.

Fiona has made a habit out of headlining stunning productions centred on the careers of music icons and this year was no different with her Adelaide Fringe Show – She Does Prince.

Crafting a show around the iconic singer and songwriter was yet another passion project for Fiona as she channels her inner teenager.

“I loved Prince as a teenager, I saved up and bought his albums, spent a lot of time playing his vinyl albums and singing those songs into my hairbrush in my bedroom,” Fiona said. “He was probably the foundation to my musical taste.

“He was so different, my parents hated him and his music, and although I didn’t know it at the time he was prepping my musical taste to explore different styles and types of music I listen to and appreciate now.”

Performing with her usual ensemble Fi & Frenz, the show debuted on Wednesday night at The Jade in March and is now set to wow local audiences with a one-off show.

“I have chosen not only songs that were hits for Prince, but some of the music and hits he shared with other musicians,” Fiona said. “Prince was a huge influence and supporter to his musician friends and was happy to share his compositions, and then they would put their twist on his songs.”

When You Were Mine, a collaboration with Cyndi Lauper, a prime example of that aspect of his career.

“The idea for the show started on the drive back to Mount Gambier after Adelaide Fringe last year,” Fiona said. “I had Prince playing loud all the way home, and I thought honestly, I love his music so much, why shouldn’t I share that with more people and so the seed was sown.

“The hardest part was deciding which songs to use because of the prolific amount of music he wrote and produced.”

As with most of Fi & Frenz shows’ Marie Holmes has been a key ‘payer in putting She Does Prince together.

“My best friend and pianist Marie Holmes is a great support and she has helped with arranging most of the charts, and with her experience in the music industry she is a great help around production and putting the show together- I have a vision and she helps it become reality,” Fiona said.

Fiona is also joined by Ryan Creedy on drums, Isaac Bruggemann on bass, Scott Maxwell on guitar with Marie on keyboard and back up vocals, along with Madi Williams.

Having the opportunity to take their musical stylings to a wider audience is always a challenge on which Fi & Frenz thrives.

“Fringe Adelaide gave me the opportunity to reach a larger audience, and explore my musical dreams,” Fiona said. “I suppose there were no assumptions on who I am in Adelaide, apart from being a musician! This may sound a little strange, but I can be a musician and performer in Adelaide, whereas in Mount Gambier I’m feel like I’m seen as a wife, nurse and mum and I do bit of singing on the side. Don’t get me wrong I love being wife, nurse and mum, but it’s amazing to be seen as a singer and performer first for a change.”

And that’s why bringing the show to local audiences this Friday.

The support artists, Dom Gartners and local band Corduroy, kick off at 7pm with the She Does Prince performance starting at 8.30pm.

Tickets are at https://www.simpletix.com/e/she-does-prince-tickets-229204