Debbie Harry fighting comedian and self proclaimed “World’s Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion” Andy Kaufman in 1983 as part of their Broadway play Teaneck Tanzi: The Venus Flytrap which was originally written by Clare Luckham and revolved around the titular character who rebels against her patriarchal upbringing by becoming a professional wrestling champion who challenges her wrestler husband to a match. Debbie Harry was cast in this role but the wrestling was so demanding that Caitlin Clarke had to be double cast.
Said Debbie, who no longer sports the platinum locks or svelte figure of her Blondie period: “Physically, this is probably the biggest thing I’ll ever do in my life. The first week, I thought, ‘Oh God, am I ever going to get through the warmup?’”
Director Chris Jones imported British middleweight champ Brian Maxine to train the cast six days a week during rehearsals. “The women have to take the bumps the same as the men,” noted Maxine, who coached performers in the successful London production, which has been running since last summer. Under his tutelage, the London cast has accumulated only one broken thumb, three cracked ribs and seven stitches.
Because of the show’s physical demands, Harry was alternating her part with veteran stage actress Caitlin Clarke, 28. “It’s the hardest role I have ever seen for a woman,” said Caitlin, though Harry insisted, “I’ve gotten more bruises playing rock concerts.”
Harry, who has acted in three films (Videodrome, Union City and Roadie), saw Broadway as a welcome alternative to the now inactive Blondie. So enthused was Debbie about her role that she saw the possibility of a new career. “If I went on from this, I could probably be a lady wrestler,” she said. In fact, should Teaneck Tanzi not repeat its English success stateside, coach Maxine has already made contingency plans. “I’ve offered to make Deborah my tag-team partner,” he said. “We’re going to tour the world and make a fortune.”
While recalling the project in an interview, Harry said: “It was great; the audiences were loud and everybody was shouting at the wrestlers just like a real wrestling match. And then they decided they were going to open it on Broadway and it opened and closed almost instantly! So I guess it was a little bit premature for Broadway.”
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