news articles 29 april

[Inside Australian Idol]

David makes most of his Idol moment
By SUE BAILEY
April 29, 2004

WITH his make-up done to perfection and not a hair out of place David Bester hopes to make it on to popular television show Australian Idol.

He is one of 50 who have been asked to perform today in front of the three Idol judges.

Resplendent in a frock, feathers and fishnet stockings the 21-year-old hairdresser was stunned with his success at yesterday's auditions.

"I'm so happy to make it through," David said last night as he applied a face mask.

"It took me 1 and a half to two hours to get ready. It was so nerve-racking.

"I've done drag shows but I'm so shocked to get through."

David, who works at the Marshall Academy of Hairdressing in Hobart, is on holidays for a week which has allowed him to prepare his Ms Montana outfit and rehearse.

He has never had singing lessons and performed the Patti Page song I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine from the Australian movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

He enjoyed the first round of auditioning at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, but in the second round he thought he was better.

"I managed to get in some dance movements," David said.

He aims to be up at 6am today to prepare, and will wear the same outfit and make-up and perform the same song.



The Mercury


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[Inside Australian Idol]

Puppet recruits fail to make a stand
By Tim Martain
April 29, 2004

COLD weather, Australian Idol auditions and sobriety were blamed for the absence of apprentice penis puppeteers yesterday.

Performing at the Theatre Royal in Hobart this week, Simon Morley and Brett Hartin held auditions to see if any Tasmanians wanted to join the hit show Puppetry Of The Penis.

But it appears the local men were all a bit soft.

"It's a bit disappointing," Morley said in the empty theatre.

"You probably don't have the climate for it down here, and Idol's holding auditions today as well."

Morley, who created the show, said they were always looking for more puppeteers because demand was so great they could not be everywhere at once.

There are eight pairs of men performing the ancient art of genital origami across the globe, all trained by Puppetry Of The Penis.

Tasmania has more men inquiring about joining the show than any other state, and eight local lads nominated via email for yesterday's audition.

But not one turned up.

"We normally get one or two at least, even though more will say they're coming," a disappointed Hartin said.

But even though nobody rose to the challenge yesterday, those coming to see the show will get their chance.

"We offer people the opportunity to get up on stage and shuffle one with us," Morley said.

"So they can come and audition in front of a theatre full of people if they want."

Morley said audition calls usually attracted all sorts of nut-bags, and still hoped to hear from at least one Hobartian.

"I think it's every man's dream to pull his pants down for an hour a night, get paid well and travel the world," he said. "Come on Hobart, it's a piece of skin, get over it."

Hartin was more philosophical. "It's better to regret something you've done than something you haven't done," he said.

The Mercury


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