Clara Cupcakes is full of sugar and sass in Yee Howdy. Photo credit Joel Devereux
Elly Squire, also known by her stage name Clara Cupcakes, brings her trademark buffoonery and silly energy to the stage in her brand-new stage show
Yee Howdy. Directed by Elf Lyons,
Yee Howdy is a vaudevillian comedic cowgirl adventure, that sees Clara Cupcakes take on multiple roles to tell a story about a cowgirl who takes on an evil moustache-twirling villain to find the magical cow that could save the world. Elly Squire has been performing burlesque and comedy since 2007. She is a two-time Golden Gibbo nominee who started her career working with the Sugar Blue Burlesque company in Perth, Western Australia. Her alter-ego Clara Cupcakes was inspired by circus, clowning, burlesque, drag, surrealist comedy, 1920s vaudeville shows, and comedians from the silent era. Her debut show,
The Merchant of Whimsy, saw her nominated for her first Golden Gibbo award at the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Her shows have become cult favourites over the years with critics praising Squire for her comedy and burlesque skills.
Yee Howdy is a cheeky cowgirl adventure. Photo credit Joel Devereux
I can see why critics adore Elly Squire's antics as Clara Cupcakes. I thought that
Yee Howdy was one of the funniest, silliest, and most creative shows that I've ever seen at the Blue Room Theatre. Elly Squire was utterly fantastic as The Cowgirl. I thought her hair, costume, and make-up was great. I could see the influence that drag has had on her stage persona. She had an exaggerated, campy style, that was part Dolly Parton, part American drag queen Trixie Mattel. I've never seen someone command a stage as well as Elly Squire did in
Yee Howdy. Her acting, singing, and comedic skills kept the audience in absolute stitches of laughter.
Join Clara Cupcakes on a quest to find the cow that can save the world. Photo credit Joel Devereux
had some of the best audience interaction that I've ever seen. Squire convinced people to dress-up and join in the action on stage, shout out things from the audience, engage in conversation with her, and even got one person to agree to toss a tumbleweed across the stage. It was so much fun. The best part of the show was the final act. I won't spoil what happens because I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. But let me just say this. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at strawberry milkshakes the same way again.
Yee Howdy is currently showing at the Blue Room Theatre as part of Summer Nights 2023 until Saturday, 11 February at 8.30pm. The show runs for 55 minutes, contains nudity, and is suitable for people 18 years and older. Tickets are $28.00 for full price and $23.00 for concession. To book tickets for this show please visit
https://blueroom.org.au/
* Marisa Quinn-Haisu was invited as a guest
