Charlie D Barkle and Erin Jay Hutchinson.
Camera IconCharlie D Barkle and Erin Jay Hutchinson. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Charlie D Barkle Shaken not stirred in 007 Fringe cabaret

Sara FitzpatrickEastern Reporter

WHO is your favourite James Bond?

Is it the original 007 Sean Connery, kicking things off with Dr No in ’62?

Maybe it’s Hollywood heartthrob Daniel Craig, debuting as the spy in Casino Royale in ’06 and recently signing on for the next instalment?

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The question – dividing fans for nearly six decades – is finally answered in upcoming Fringe World show, Shaken: A James Bond Cabaret.

Perth-turned-Melbourne performer Charlie D Barkle, and Perth entertainer Erin Jay Hutchinson use science and maths to reveal the victor.

“We will be an impartial party and present each Bond, giving some information about him, and plug the audience into our giant mathematic algorithm to determine which one is best,” Barkle said.

Barkle, a WAAPA grad and former member of Sugar Blue Burlesque entertainment troupe, wrote Shaken as an excuse to belt out the classic Bond songs.

After much research, however, he became enamoured with the cult figure.

“James Bond is such an interesting character; we’ve had seven different actors play him, all bringing their own little nuances and bits and pieces to the role,” Barkle said.

“Just seeing him evolve over the years and seeing how society has changed is interesting.

“You look back on the Connery films – and I’m not going to sugar coat this, he was incredibly misogynistic – and then you look more towards the Daniel Craig era and you can see producers really addressing some of those issues and saying, ‘we can’t let that sort of stuff slide anymore’.”

Barkle said his favourite Bond was Timothy Dalton.

“I found him to be really raw and honest as a Bond,” he said.

“There is a beautiful moment when one of his associates is killed and you see him really break down and get emotional and he gets mad as a cut snake and runs around trying to find the villain who killed his mate.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Shaken: A James Bond Cabaret

Where: The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth

When: February 6-11

Tickets: www.fringeworld.com.au