Trolley dolly comic Pam Ann flies into The Hexagon, Reading
LIZ CROSTHWAITE • Published 8 Mar 2013 06:30
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SHE'S feisty, ferocious, and a self-confessed 'airline geek' - Pam Ann is back, and the sharp-tongued air hostess is taking no prisoners.
The high-flying alter ego of Australian comic Caroline Reid has won fans including Elton John and Madonna as she takes audiences on a turbulent ride through the vagaries and stereotypes of international travel, with lashings of innuendo, smut and camp asides.
"I hate mediocrity and I hate people that are politically correct and that are safe. I like comedians that are not safe," Caroline told me on the phone. "People are offended by what they think they are hearing. I do not give a s*** - I like it if people walk out. In New York it's cool if someone walks out, I'm like 'yesss'."
After 10 years touring her sky-high alter ego, it seems Caroline's interpretation of Pam has mellowed not a jot - and the material just keeps on coming.
"I have too much content! I can talk all day just about my journey that day. Some people feel like they're in a hi-jack situation... in Copenhagen I did a two-and-a-half hour show."
She added that the character of Pam had come about almost by accident. "Well I guess it was never really thought out, I guess that I was a very terrible actor and I thought 'the only way I'm going to get work is if I create my own character'," Caroline revealed. "And so I was influenced by Stephen Berkoff and Sandra Bernhard, their one-man/woman shows. Pam was born out of a fear of auditions and it just mutated into comedy. It was a big dressing-up session; I love dressing up and the 1960s and Pan Am. She was born out of a bottle of vodka, really!"
Caroline added that Pam's appeal lay in the fact that the heavily made-up trolley dolly could say things her audience daren't.
"I guess it's something people relate to, they can relate to the flying aspect, if you have travelled you kind of get it. And it's that thing, because the character's quite ferocious and takes no prisoners - I call it verbal abuse - people like that.
"With The Weakest Link, and Simon Cowell... there's something about that put-down thing - if it's done in the right way it can be really funny."
Pam Ann: Around The World 2013 is at The Hexagon, Reading, tomorrow (Friday). Tickets cost £23 plus booking fee from www.readingarts.com or call 0118 960 6060.
This article appeared in Bracknell News 07 Mar 13
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