CENTRE STAGE
It’s show time for the Dordays!
If it wasn’t for her mother, Jodie Dorday might still be in Bali, riding her scooter and sipping on coconut juice.
In 2016, Debbie Dorday – who you may remember from the iconic “See you at Burgandy’s” TV ads in the ‘80s – urged Jodie to send an audition tape to the Auckland Theatre Company.
This resulted in two things: Jodie landing the role of tough-talking dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot, and returning to New Zealand with her Australian husband Troy Bradbury and their son Jackson (6).
“I wasn’t thinking about going back to acting at all,” says Jodie (50). “But Mum came over for a holiday and encouraged me. Then a couple of days later I got an email saying, ‘You’re in.’ Then I went to bed thinking, ‘Oh, my God, what have I done?’”
Debbie felt differently: “Of course I was delighted she was coming home!” she says.
Jodie had been working as a sales rep for an advertising agency in Australia prior to having Jackson. “Acting is a pretty cut-throat industry,” she tells. “I was sick of being poor, so I decided to leave the industry for a while. That took me in the direction of having a husband and child, and eventually living in Bali.”
However, Billy Elliot was a triumphant return to the stage. Since then, she has received rave reviews for Roger Hall’s one-woman play Book Club, where she played eight different characters, and had a stint on Three’s Westside as Cheryl’s mum.
Now she’s back with the Auckland Theatre Company for Filthy Business, a fiery family comedy-drama centred around a tough East End matriarch who’s battling to stop her empire from crumbling in 1960s London.
“Jenny Ludlam plays the main role – she’s the big reason that I took the job. I didn’t even look at the script,” Jodie laughs.
“She’s the mother-in-law and I’m the daughter-in-law, and I think that dynamic is perfect for conflict and comedy. It’s a dream.
“My character’s actually not on that much. I play a very eager-to-please, nervous character, so when you read a note like that from a playwright, it opens the door for lots of comedic stuff. She’s really annoying and I intend to make her as annoying as possible because if you’re only on stage for a short time, you’ve got to make it memorable!”
The fact that Debbie was in London in the ‘60s has helped Jodie develop the character’s authenticity. “Jodie told me she’s Jewish, then starts doing a Barbra Streisand accent!” hoots Debbie. I said, ‘If she’s from London, she won’t talk like that.’”
Jodie is working lines with Debbie before Filthy Business starts. “Mum will pull me up for any accent stuff. She wouldn’t fluff my feathers. If your mother can’t tell you the truth, then who can?” she says.
Not that Debbie has a huge amount of time on her hands. She is preparing to go to the South Island for six weeks, touring her Costume and Comedy show with Jim Joll.
Her husband Mike Strickland is the roadie and does all the lighting and sound.
“Since Burgundy’s, I teamed up with Jim, who is a singer, comedian and wonderful guitar player. We worked on shows to take around the country and we’re still going 20 years later!
“It’s based on my show at Burgundy’s, but without the dancing. I do a monologue about someone who keeps being asked to do the cancan and doesn’t want to.”
She still has the legs for it, but Debbie says she doesn’t
dance these days. However, she concedes, “I do shove some feathers on for the opening.”
Jodie tells, “There’s no-one quite like Mum on stage. It’s a wonderful show! While I’m doing Filthy Business, Mum’s touring and my son got his first Farmers catalogue shoot.”
Debbie adds with a chuckle, “Three generations of Dordays in the spotlight. Finally!”
Jodie says Jackson is quite the performer, just like his mother and grandmother.
“He came along a bit later in life,” she tells. “Most of my friends have teenagers, but
I feel very blessed to have a six-year-old. He’s challenging and he’s very dramatic. I don’t know where he gets that from!”
Debbie also relishes her role as a grandmother to five under 10-year-olds. “There’s two girls and three boys, and they’re all gorgeous,” she says. “They’re such a joy. The two girls are doing ballet and tap. I’ve started teaching Jackson tap too. He’s got the shuffle down. There will be another step on Tuesday.”
“Mum has amazing energy,” tells Jodie. “You’re lucky as an actor because you can be on stage as long as you want. You can be 99 and still on stage.”
“I’m looking forward to it!” laughs Debbie.