Bonnie Kilroe's Video Blog

Vegas Meets Vaudeville

Dave Willis, The Delta Optimist

Published: Saturday, September 12, 2009

Celebrity impersonator Bonnie Kilroe is bringing her one-woman Vegas Meets Vaudeville show to the Tsawwassen Legion next Friday.

She expects to portray up to 14 different stars like Cher, Barbra Streisand and Patsy Cline.

All those costume changes can make things a little hectic behind the scenes, she says.

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Bonnie Kilroe as Cher.

submitted photo "It's pretty manic. There's one-minute costume changes. It is a one-woman show but I need someone in the back to help me zip up and zip down," the Vancouver-based Kilroe explains. "Every second counts, believe me."

Her show includes comedic elements and some audience participation.

"[The audience] should expect to laugh and perhaps, be a little bit involved," she says. "I've gotten the shyest people up on stage and they've totally loved it."

It's hard for Kilroe to pick a star she enjoys performing as the most.

"For comedy, I love doing Tina Turner and Dolly Parton. For being the most alike and looking the most alike, I'd say Cher. For attitude and personality, I love Cher and Barbra Streisand. Singing wise, Patsy Cline was my first inspiration."

Kilroe started her act in 2001 and since then the show has "grown in leaps and bounds."

She started doing singing telegrams, then performed as celebrities as part of a musical dinner theatre gig before doing celebrity-o-grams. She was doing film work in 2001 when a slow spell prompted her to put together the one-woman show.

Kilroe has performed on cruise ships and around B.C., including a show at the Edgewater Casino last year.

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Woman of many faces brings show to Tsawwassen

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Double take—Of all the many faces impresonator Bonnoe Kilroe can conjur up, Barbara Streisand is her favourite. To see Kilroe perform her one-woman cavalcade of stars visit the Tsawwassen Legion tonight (Sept.17).

Philip Raphael

Editor

Bonnie Kilroe got used to performing at a young age when audiences had to the potential to turn sour.

True, the gatherings taking in her ability to mimic people were small and giving of their undivided attention. It was just that the subject matter didn’t always go over well.

“I must have been around eight-years-old and I’d be performing for family,” Kilroe says. “And when you’re in that situation and that age, who better to impersonate than you’re favourite auntie.”

And since comedic impersonations usually play on a subject’s exaggerated character, it can sometimes go over like a lead balloon.

“There’d be things like, ‘I don’t sound like that, I don’t look like that,’ and sometimes it didn’t sit well with that particular member of the family I was impersonating,” Kilroe says laughing during a telephone interview earlier this week.

Thankfully, she managed to get beyond that early criticism and took up the art of pulling together a one-woman show that has plenty of famous faces. It’s an act Kilroe is bringing to the Tsawwassen Legion (1835 56 St, Tsawwassen) on Friday (Sept. 18) with her Vegas meets Vaudeville show.

The performance takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of some of the entertainment world’s best known female performers, from Cher and Barbara Streisand, to Patsy Cline and Carmen Miranda.

Of all the impersonations she performs, Kilroe says she is most in tune with her rendition of Streisand.

“I pretty much embody her performance because I think I can look and sound a lot like her,” she says.”Someone like Cher is a lot harder.”

But honing the look and the sound is a labour of love for Kilroe who first got her acting chops in high school in Richmond.

Today, she takes to the stage on cruise ships and even lends her talents to TV and feature films such as the movie The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave in which she was supposed to portray a pregnant Streisand.

Unfortunately, a disagreement with Streisand’s management left Kilroe’s act on the cutting room floor.

Eager to bring new characters to her act, Kilroe says she is going to debut her portrayal of new recording artist Lady Gaga at the Tsawwassen show.

“I’m going to start off by doing Nancy Sinatra then transform on stage into Lady Gaga,” Kilroe says. “It’s going to be fun to see how the two blend into each other.”

Tickets are $20 ($15 in advance). Show time is 8 p.m. For more information, call 604-943-0232

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Patsy Cline

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Celebrity Imposters with Bonnie Kilroe

Jericho Tennis Club letter of reference

Bonnie Kilroe, Celebrity Entertainer, performed at Jericho Tennis Club’s Annual Sin

at Sunset Summer Party in July 2008 .

I was impressed with her professionalism in many ways. She spent the afternoon on

location making sure the stage was set up to her standards and that the props and

costumes were ready for the evening performance.

Her stage presence is professional and attractive. She has a beautiful singing voice and

her dancing was super. Her choice of celebrities complete with appropriate costuming

was chosen with care. The show started on time and she captivated the audience.

Her Burlesque Show was excellent too. Several ladies entertained the audience with

their burlesque dances which were sensual but tasteful in appeal. This aspect of the show

appealed to the "sin" part of our summer party and is appropriate for adult audiences who

are familiar with and enjoy burlesque dancing. This troupe was also talented.

I would highly recommend Celebrity Entertainer Bonnie Kilroe for her talent and

professionalism.

Carolyn McCallum

Social Director 2008

Jericho Tennis Club

Point Grey Road

Vancouver

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Diamond Ball Event Feb 16th

Febuary 16 2008 a Fabulous Fundraiser for the Diamod Ball Event. Poster and letter of reference.

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great privilege that I write this letter in recommendation of Bonnie Kilroe. Bonnie performed at our fundraising event for the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House in February 2008 for a mixed audience of 250 people.

As the feature entertainment of the evening, Bonnie’s performance was absolutely outstanding. Her ability to engage the guests while transforming into so many different characters was very impressive. The success of the evening was highly dictated by the quality of Bonnie’s performance and we received phenomenal feedback during and after the event. Bonnie began as “Marilyn Monroe” mingling with the guests during the cocktail hour, which really set the mood and tone for the evening, making all of the guests feel special. Her performance was approximately one hour in length following dinner and she was very skilled in choosing and encouraging guests to join her for various antics during the show. This also included a few VIP and politicians from the community where her interaction with them was very appropriate and professional. From the moment of first contact, to making arrangements with her, she was easy to work with and very enthusiastic every step of the way.

It is without hesitation that I provide my recommendation for Bonnie Kilroe, who is not only a gifted and talented musician, but very charismatic and charming to win over a crowd!

Best Regards,

Lisa Thompson

Chairperson

The Stars are Out Ball

South Burnaby

Neighbourhood House