JANE Keller is shocked at being perilously close to 60. It’s not that she feels older. Rather she wonders how the years have passed so quickly.
But Keller says being a baby boomer is something to celebrate and in her one woman show Boomers Behaving Badly, currently playing at CircaTwo, she focuses on what she and her generation is getting up to - from divorce and internet dating to botox.
“Sixty is definitely the new 40,” Keller says. “Many of my friends are celebrating the fact that at this stage of life they are free for the first time. We still feel young and vibrant and we are still getting up to all kinds of mischief.”
Keller has performed Boomers Behaving Badly once before. The show originally debuted in the St James Theatre cabaret series last year. This new production comes with an expanded story lines, more dialogue and many new songs.
“There are 22 songs in the show. I spend a lot of time researching and finding songs. Most are unknown to most people but I’ve found many little gems that are wonderful.”
When selecting a song Keller says she first looks at the lyrics. She believes that while music has the ability to move people it is the words of a song that have the greatest emotional punch. This is why she works so hard on her diction and preferring not to work with a microphone she has learnt to articulate her voice to ensure her audience can hear every word.  And after performing Boomers Behaving Badly at Wellington’s  St James she’s looking forward to being on stage in the much smaller CircaTwo theatre.
“I prefer an intimate theatre where I am close to the audience. I like to be able to see an audience react, see them laugh, see them cry,” Keller says.
And while she’s moved to a smaller theatre Keller’s audience is set to expand. A New Zealand tour of Boomers Behaving Badly is planned for next year.
Jane Kelly in Boomers Behaving Badly, CircaTwo Threatre, to June 11.