"Money! Tickets! Passport! . . . Money! Tickets! Passport!" Mark shrieked as he rushed back into the house to pick up a forgotten boa or accessory for costume change number three. (Side note: Mark as referencing Edina Monsoon from "Absolutely Fabulous", for all the straight people reading this.) Yes, it was the biennial "Mordecai is a Drag V3.0" party at Med's in Raleigh, NC.
The talent was top notch this year even without the professional stylings of Mr. Tim Blair nor the multi talents of Mr. Wayne Wilson. Our hostess, Marion Haste, remained sober and lucid this year as she welcomed Drag performers and audience members alike. The show started with a fabulous Parade of Talent (much like the beginnings of a three ring circus with only slightly fewer freaks). Cherry Penetrada performed Shirley Bassey's cover of Pink's "Let's Get This Party Started", in a Vegas showgirl outfit, complete with rhinestones, feathers, and a headdress reaching to the glorious North Carolina night sky, as all the performers meandered across the stage providing a glimpse of the spectacle to come. The first performer and hostess, Marion Haste, provided audience members with the Ten Essential Drag Moves in the Drag Tutorial. Moves such as "Pussy on Fire" and "Flick the Booger" or "Stomp the Cockroach" were explained for the novice audience members. She challenged one and all to look for these moves as the evening wore on. Marion also reminded us of the difference between "drag illusion" and "booger drag". I'll leave it to your judgement as to which type of drag was performed this evening.
Other performers provided professional, high quality entertainment all evening long. Carmen Getta was splendid in a pink feather-lined mini with knee-high patent-leather white boots, performing "I'm Always Drunk in San Francisco".
Marion Haste then returned to the stage and performed the Broadway classic "The Ladies Who Lunch". Well I'll drink to that! Definitely a theme was emerging: these girls love their booze.
Roxanne Gravel continued the show with a rousing latin number from the movie "Kinky Boots" with a quote seared in this reviewer's mind, "In these shoes? I don't think so."
Anita Mann sang a heart stopping, tear jerking rendition of "Over the Rainbow" (the unofficial national gay anthem -- obligatory in parades and at festivals USA-wide.)
Let us not forget our drag kings, either. Pedro Bendemovar used a flaming hoop for a routine to, you guessed it, "Ring of Fire". Our second drag king, Jude the Dude, performed a spririted country song, "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down", truly the sexiest farmer-skank around, complete with redneck butt-crackage.
There were too many numbers to list in this recount. Audience members also provided endless opportunities for comment, as most were in drag, good, bad, and ugly.
The party lasted until the final performer packed up her wigs, parasols, makeup kit, and dresses at 2 a.m.
The audience was considerably smaller than in previous years, more of an almost night club casual atmosphere. The talent was infinitely more rehearsed and better, but as insisted upon by our hostess, still Booger. Despite prop failures and a slanted stage, most every talent performed at least twice. Highlights included flying glitter, fizzing Diet Coke, "My pussy, just a silly pussy cat", strobes, a smoke machine, and audience participation dress-up.
The party was the most fabulous magical affair available in the Triangle last Saturday night.
The performance is always the mountaintop arrived through the confluence of creativity, hard work and humor. The performers rarely have the opportunity to enjoy each other as they are preparing backstage in the drag tent and are not in the audience. The next day at Irregardless brunch the talent congregated to trade fables, share photos, and laugh uproariously much to the chagrin of Sunday church-going patrons wanting to enjoy a quiet morning of light jazz and crab cakes. The antics prompted the waitress to ask "Are you comedians?" to which the resound reply came "No -- Drag Queens". Squeals of laughter are good for the soul. Med, or course, has vowed to host this party in another two years and has forbidden any and all to try and gussy it up. Ultimately, as much as it pains me to admit, he is right.
Sunday evening was spent with Rusty and Mark drinking wines most of the evening and solving each other's problems (as well as all the problems of everyone to whom we are acquainted). Another opportunity to reinvigorate the soul.
So gentle readers, if you were absent, you were clearly missed. If you were present, please include your favorite memory in the comments.
I hope you enjoyed just a taste of the oddity, talent, and hilarity.
Write soon!
Other Photos...enjoy!
Audience participation time. Can anyone say uncomfortable straight guy.
"Is this going to be offensive?"
That's a whole lotta intense woman!
A true vision of loveliness in pre-performance relaxation.
Seattle Grunge couple! Delicious.
