WHAT began as a summer fling has turned into a 14-year commitment.
The BeatGirls’ Carrie McLaughlin first joined up with the (self-confessed) manic trio after David Backler, friend of co-founder Andrea Sanders, auditioned her six months after the group’s inception.
“He said just sing down the phone at me. Just sing down the phone. Then we can know if you can hold a tune.” She didn’t know she could sing. Backler thought otherwise.
Thus what she thought would be a passing phase changed her life.
“I don’t think anybody thought it would be a 14-year relationship. It’s like family now. I don’t know where we get the energy considering [some of us] are 14 years older.”
It’s understating to say the concept began with a bang at the 1996 Downstage performance Blame it on the Bossanova, she says. “Brazilian music. Three woman singing, drums, horns, saxophone, trumpet. All the beat songs.”
The repertoire began with The Beatles - Carrie says edging the women into both the pub and the corporate markets - and moved on through the eras.
It’s that diversification and ability (or desire) to change that flamboyant Carrie attributes to the longevity of The BeatGirls’ family.
“We started with The Shirelles and The Ronettes: the 60s era and the beehive hairstyles – and people love that stuff. They just love Da Doo Ron Ron. They love it,” she says. “We thought well, why stop there? Let’s do the 70s, and the 80s. The 40s: The Andrews Sisters, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Boppy 40s stuff.”
With BeatCamp! at Circa Theatre the girls continue through the decades featuring Madonna “no pointys”, Amy Winehouse “eyelashes etc, the whole works” and Abba “of course there’s got to be an Abba song in there”.
BeatCamp!, by The BeatGirls featuring Andrea Sanders, Carrie McLaughlin and Kali Kopae, Circa Theatre, October 2 to 30.