Double Trouble
On a mission to share their failures and thereby help others embrace their mediocrity, Judith Lucy and Denise Scott are currently touring their show ‘Disappointments’. DUO caught up with the comedians while they’re on the road.
DUO: How did you two first meet?
Judith: The first time I saw Denise was at a theatre restaurant in Melbourne called The Last Laugh, which a lot of comedians came up through. So I had moved from Perth to Melbourne and I saw Scotty in a fantastic group she used to be in where she and three other women dressed up as men and sang incredibly sleazy songs about women. They were absolutely hilarious so I remember being a fan of hers from the moment I saw her because she was quite the scene-stealer even in those days.
Denise: I recall seeing Judith on stage for the first time and she argues she wasn’t wearing a skivvy but I stand by my claim she was wearing a black skivvy and everyone was talking about her as the next big thing in comedy. She would’ve been about 21.
DUO: Your show is called Disappointments – what’s the most disappointing thing about your life?
Judith: Well while we were touring the show, our lives, mine in particular, got more and more disappointing. My relationship ended spectacularly badly, which inspired me to write a show called Judith Lucy Vs Men, which I’m currently touring at the same time.
Denise: In the show I talk about the disappointments of ageing like arthritis. And my memory is pretty stuffed. In fact Judith, in showbiz terms, had to carry me for the first few months of the show because I just couldn’t remember what came next. Outside of the show, my disappointments involve other people who are quite close to me so I can’t talk about it.
DUO: What is the most disappointing thing about each other?
Judith: This is a really easy one. Denise is the slowest walker on the face of the earth. I mean, sure, she bangs on about having arthritis but look, whatever, just get a move on! She’s half woman, half sloth.
Denise: The disappointing thing about Judith is she’s so fit. I can’t stand it. She does yoga for hours every day. What does that do for me? It just makes me feel bad about myself because all I do is lie in bed and watch Netflix. Her vocal warm-ups before a show also drive me insane. It’s very disturbing and thoughtless of her because I’m just trying to have a glass of wine in peace.
DUO: It’s claimed the show will help the audience embrace their mediocrity – what’s something you’re mediocre at?
Judith: It’s a very long list. I have so little skills it’s ridiculous. I can’t drive. I can’t swim. I can’t really cook. I only learned recently how to ride a bike and I’d have to say I’m pretty mediocre at relationships.
Denise: I’m mediocre at house-keeping, anything to do with technology and I’m not just mediocre at dancing but I’m quite hopeless at it, which I’m finding as I’m training for Dancing with the Stars. I was hoping I’d reach mediocre status but I’m beneath that. Maybe by the end of the show I’ll achieve mediocrity.
DUO: Have there been any stand-out moments on the tour so far?
Judith: When we were in Adelaide a man did actually throw a bowel cancer testing kit on stage, which is not a claim that many shows can make.
Denise: Some performers may get flowers and underwear thrown at them but we get bowel cancer testing kits!
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www.comedy.com.au/tour/disappointments