House of Rot: A Queer Cabaret Invocation of Grey Gardens
Now showing at the Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse in Melbourne until 20 June 2026, House of Rot is a cabaret invocation directed by Dino Dimitriadis with musical direction by Victoria Falconer. This production is inspired by the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens, created by Ellen Hovde, Marion 'Muffie' Meyer, and Albert and David Maysles, which depicted the lives of Big and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy, living in their dilapidated East Hampton home. The performance highlights the Edies' passion for music and dance, featuring a song cycle that includes Two for Tea, Windmills of Your Mind, and I'll Be Your Mirror. Paul Capsis plays Big, while Adam Noviello portrays Little, delivering a memorable rendition of I Touch Myself. A striking duet of Send in the Clowns and Zombie stands out, all set against a minimalist backdrop of seven black chairs.
Key facts
- House of Rot is a cabaret invocation created and directed by Dino Dimitriadis.
- Musical direction is by Victoria Falconer.
- The show runs at the Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse, Melbourne until 20 June 2026.
- It is inspired by the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens about Big and Little Edie Bouvier Beale.
- Grey Gardens was directed by Ellen Hovde, Marion 'Muffie' Meyer, and Albert and David Maysles.
- The Edies were aunt and cousin to Jacqueline Kennedy and lived in a dilapidated East Hampton mansion.
- Paul Capsis plays Big Edie; Adam Noviello plays Little Edie.
- Noviello is a nonbinary singer/songwriter described as 'the long-lost love child of Troye Sivan and Lady Gaga' by Mama Alto.
- The song cycle includes Two for Tea, Windmills of Your Mind, I'll Be Your Mirror, Cry Baby, I Touch Myself, and a mash-up of Send in the Clowns and Zombie.
- The set consists of seven black chairs lined up facing the audience.
Entities
Artists
- Dino Dimitriadis
- Victoria Falconer
- Paul Capsis
- Adam Noviello
- Ellen Hovde
- Marion 'Muffie' Meyer
- Albert Maysles
- David Maysles
- Charlotte Zwerin
- Big Edie Bouvier Beale
- Little Edie Bouvier Beale
- Jacqueline Kennedy
- Drew Barrymore
- Jessica Lange
- Marilyn Monroe
- Shirley Bassey
- Tina Turner
- Judy Garland
- Janis Joplin
- Mama Alto
- Troye Sivan
- Lady Gaga
- Reuben Kaye
- Madeleine Swain
Institutions
- Green Door Theatre Company
- Merlyn Theatre
- Malthouse
- Triple J
- JOY Media
- Melbourne Queer Film Festival
- ArtsHub
- ScreenHub
Locations
- East Hampton
- Melbourne
- Australia