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The Kransky Sisters.
 Most people describing The Kransky Sisters - Mourne, Eve and Arva - use words such as 'mad', 'absurd' and 'bizarre'. That's just lazy journalism. These spinsters from Queensland are smarter than that. Most of their time is spent at their house in Esk ("It's 100 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, someone told us," Eve Kransky helpfully explains) but every so often they load up the Morris Major and head out to a 'big town' to put on a show, playing their unique versions of songs heard on the 'wireless', before returning to the peace of Esk. What's so kooky about that?
The Cabaret Festival will be their first visit to Adelaide. "We've been to Melbourne..." says Mourne Kransky. "We drove the Morris to Melbourne..." adds Eve.
Mourne: "...yes, it broke down four times. Arva had to change the tyres. The only place to get oil in Goulburn was the fish and chip shop."
Did that work?
"Yes...for about two miles."
Talking to Mourne and Eve is a unique experience. Mourne does most of the talking, with softly-spoken support from Eve. They never talk over the other, but weave words around each other's sentences, often beginning with the word 'yes'. It's hard to believe there are two people on the other end of the line, so seamless are their thoughts.
The Kransky Sisters enjoy putting on their shows for an audience. "Yes, they often dance. And also sometimes cheer. And sometimes they clap" says Mourne. "Most times." They're even sometimes recognised off stage. "Sometimes people wave at us. And we don't know them. But it's very friendly," Eve admits.
Driving back to Esk can be a bit of a downer though. "Yes, it's sad," says Eve.
"Yes, we always feel a bit lonely driving back from a nice time in the town. Big towns. There's more people in the towns than in Esk," explains Mourne. Having said that, there's no thought of relocating.
"We like our house in Esk. It's nice, and we've always lived there... since we were five..."
"Since we were five..." adds Eve.
"...in the same house," Mourne continues.
"We'd miss our garden," says Eve.
Mourne: "Yes. And our neighbour Mrs Winks has a llama."
Eve: "And the Boyles next door let us use their computer. They sit and type for us. And Lance Boyle fixed our fence. He's Mrs Boyle's husband."
"Yes," finishes Mourne.
Their shows are a mix of this intricate story-telling about life in Esk, with songs performed using instruments such as reed keyboard, guitar, musical-saw, tuba and tambourine. They play versions of songs heard on their wireless, but make the point that radio is different down south. "The wireless is different down here..." begins Eve.
"Down here it's different..." adds Mourne.
Eve: "It's different. Very modern songs."
Mourne: "Yes. But there are some nice ones we'd like to do. A Destiny's Child one."
Eve: "Yes, but in our show we do a Sugababes song..."
Mourne: "Yes, and Deee-Lite. And Marvin Gaye."
Eve: "Pink."
Mourne: "Pink, yes. And Roy Orbison."
Packing a range of songs like that, and being absolutely compelling characters they are, the Kransky Sisters first visit to Adelaide should be something very special. I urge them to take care of the Morris Major for the trip down.
Mourne finishes on a thoughtful note. "We'd better fix the blinker. The left blinker. It's on the blink."
Wade Howland
 | The Kransky Sisters perform from Tues 14 to Sat 18 June as part of the Cabaret Festival, proudly supported by dB Magazine. |
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