Mum’s In: Stories From Razorhurst

The legendary characters of Sydney’s 1930s razor gangs are experiencing a renaissance, but before they come to the small screen, courtesy of the new Underbelly series, they burst into life in a new cabaret production in Darlinghurst. Mum’s In: stories from Razorhurst is written and performed by local raconteur and cabaret freak, Vashti Hughes (Six Quick Chicks, Getting Down With Mavis Brown) replete with bawdy ballads, historic footage, hysterical anecdotes, the occasional strip tease and a well stocked bootleg bar.

In homage to the indecent days of Darlinghurst’s brothels, bars and brawls, Hughes embodies various notorious characters from the Razorhurst era. We meet first lady of Sydney crime, Randwick resident and Queen of Woolloomooloo, Tilly Devine; her bitter rival with a strangle hold on Surry Hills, Kate Leigh; death-defying prostitute Nellie Cameron, one of her many gangland boyfriends Frank Green, and her first husband, overlord Guido Caletti, whose murder and funeral sets the scene for the play.

These were the years in which wealthy, powerful women had Darlinghurst by the balls, the police in their pockets, criminals on their knees and packed establishments supplying bountiful illegal booze to Sydney-siders looking for a good time. With Mum’s In, Hughes promises the same. She is joined on stage by her partner, Ross Johnston, musician and sound artist better known to locals as “3k Short” of Machine Gun Fellatio.