Sydney, Australia- When Lisa Adam is asked whether she ever thought she’d be playing a porn star on stage, the answer (like the musical in question, Debbie Does Dallas) comes out of left field.

“I did entertain the idea once when I thought I would like to become an actress,” she said, with big innocent eyes, then smiles big and broad. “I’m kidding.”

Playing a misunderstood vamp is no stretch for Adam, whose biggest break since graduating from WAAPA in 1994 was playing Cervantian sex worker Aldonza in Man Of La Mancha.

In a sense though she’s better cast in DDD because Adam’s wide Manga eyes suggest an innocence which typifies Debbie – despite the porn character’s state-wide shagfest.

“Debbie – who’s a virgin – is not hung up on it. She just doesn’t want to do it until she gets married. But she changes her mind – to realise her dreams when her priorities change,” Adam smiled.

“No one’s really hung up on anything in the show … There was less fear in the world. People’s attitudes to each other and the people’s attitudes towards sex and their sexuality – everyone’s a lot more comfortable with it.”

The story, for those yet to catch it on video or DVD, is weirdly heart-warming. Debbie Benton dreams of being a Texas Cowboy Cheerleader, but can’t afford the money to get to the Lone Star state. How will she raise the cash?

Adam says the musical version, a hit in 2002 at the New York Fringe Festival, is very close to the “adult film”.

“A lot of the dialogue is taken directly from the movie,” Adam said. “The difference is there is a little bit more padding out to fit with the style of this piece, being a spoof …

“But also when the, shall we say, ‘critical moments’ in the movie happen, we do a musical number. That’s probably the major difference.”

Expect ditties such as The Dildo Rag, Ten Dollars Closer and Dallas, I’m Coming. And pompoms. And some very high kicks.

Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical is playing at the Downstairs Theatre at the Seymour Centre from 4 to 28 August. Phone 9266 4800 for bookings.