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Lashings of Whipped Cream: A Session with a Teenage Dominatrix has been titillating audiences ever since it was penned by Fiona Samuel in 1993. Now as part of the Auckland Pride Festival, performer Ricky Beirao brings Mistress Dominique to life once again – but with a twist. Renee Liang interviews Ricky.

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Long before Fifty Shades and scores of secretly titillated yummy mummies, there was Lashings of Whipped Cream.  But in the new version of the twenty-year old stage classic, performer Ricky Beirao offers a twist: ‘she’ is really a he. Mistress Dominique not only challenges perceptions of feminism and the BDSM lifestyle, but also transgender roles.  It’s fitting, then, that this play is part of the packed program of the Auckland Pride Festival.  

Why do you act?

Probably as a way to escape my boring life and seek some excitement hiding my insecurities and fears under a mask!
(is that too intense!?)

How did you come across the play and why did you decide to do it?

I discovered the show during a Theatre History class at drama school (Toi Whakaari) where we were talking about New Zealand Theatre and writers and we came across this one. Instantly I fell in love with the title and started reading it and thought it would be great to do it with the twist of playing it cross gendered. I've always been interested in this idea of gender in theatre and I thought this show would be a great one to add another layer in it.

This isn't really a show about BDSM, is it....?

It is and it is not. I think the play uses the topic to look into our own personal lives and choices that we make.
 
What kinds of audiences do you get?  

All sorts, very mixed crowd! To quote the show, "Quite a kinky little crowd"

Do you prefer to perform as a woman?

I think it’s more comfortable for me performing as a woman.  
I think like clowning or commedia del'arte you put on a mask and hide yourself under it. I think it’s like that with me in drag, I do things I can get away with in this Alter Ego, that as a man I would not be able to do. It's very easy once you put the wig on and the character becomes theatrical and larger than life.
 
What research did you do for the role?

I had a couple of conversations with a very interesting Dominatrix in Melbourne and friends who are into BDSM. It's great to see you change your mind how you have this idea which is all about spanking and pain but really it's about choice and control.

Tell us about the tour.

We are doing Melbourne, Auckland and Sydney and going through the three biggest gay festivals in the Southern Hemisphere. Midsumma, Auckland Pride and Sydney Mardi Gras! Very exciting!  

What are you working on next?

I am producing a stage version of Pedro Almodovar's All about My Mother, which is an amazing movie turned into a beautiful play. I am looking at producing a couple of other shows and hopefully direct something soon! But if anyone wants to hire me I am available!