Meet: Bunny Wonderland

Bunny Wonderland

If you recall, a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I needed to do some research into what it's like to be a drag queen, because I intend to try to make a graphic novel about it...at some point.  And, I wrote down a bunch of interview questions, and posted it all over the place.  Because, when you live with drag queens, you know a lot of other drag queens, and therefore it should be easy to get a whole lot of answers, right?  Wrong.  I literally got two responses.  Well, three, because Dan/Shaunna Rai will answer any questions I have any time I ask.

So, as a way of keeping track of who answered, and a way of promoting for them, I'm going to go out on a limb, and give out some of the answers that I received.

The first, and fastest, to get back to me was Bunny Wonderland.  I met Bunny for the first time, at the Lewistunning Dragapalooza, last summer, when Shaunna Rai co-hosted it.  I'd heard her name, but knew nothing about what of drag she would be categorized in, and so went in totally unprepared for the act.  What came through, was immediately clear, she is hilarious.  The act started with A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, and moved through The Sound of Music, right on to a demonic possession from The Exorcist.  In short, my mind was blown.

So, who is Bunny Wonderland?

Amber Snow, Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai

Bunny's portrayer, Knate, actually got his start, doing drag, hosting Rocky Horror Picture Show, at the Movies at Exchange Street, in Portland, back in 2001. Bunny made her first appearance at an AIDS Benefit Drag Show, in 2005. Now that I've paraphrased some of her bio, I'll let her speak. "As usual, my first time out of the gate was...well...less than polished. But, I had a taste of the freeness that Drag brings, and with it a happy outlet for gender expression, and needless to say, I was hooked. I was approached by Southern Maine Pride, to be the Princess of Pride in 2006, and to act as a Youth Ambassador. I gave Bunny a full makeover, bought some "cute" dresses and started hanging with other queens (Shaunna Rai, Ariel Gibbs, Amber Snow, etc.) I learned a few tricks of the trade, and developed my character.  Bunny slowly transitioned from a retro kitsch queen to full blown punk debutante in a matter of months. She still to this day has a touch of retro style, and mouth of a sailor. I always wanted Bunny to be sweet as pie, and community oriented. I always have Bunny be the one when someone else says "NO," she says, "Yes, and?""

My personal favorite part of learning about drag queens is how they got their names.  Because, I don't know, it's just fun.  They run the gamut of "First Pets Name+Street You Grew Up On=Drag Name" (In my case, it would be Spice Andrews.)How'd Bunny get hers?
"I've been a vegetarian for close to 15 years. Vegetarian=Bunny.  I have always had an affinity for strong fictional female characters, and my first show was at the hookah bar in Portland, ME. Combined=Wonderland"

What's your favorite part of doing drag?
"The ability to make people laugh, think and be moved by a smart and clever performance is the reason I do drag. Hands down, nothing is more important to me than having someone walk away from a performance and go, "That was fucking awesome." I could lip sync to Beyonce for 7 mins and collect a fistful of tips, but honestly...that's not my speed. I also love the pomp and circumstance that comes with "putting on the mask." People treat you very differently while in drag, and I kinda like it. I can do, say, and be something I normally wouldn't be."

Queens tend to get categorized. (ie. Comedy, Club kid, Pageant Queen) What category do you consider yourself to be?
Campy, Esotreric Punk Debutant

Bunny Wonderland

I have experiened stage fright every time that I've ever done anything on stage.  Have you ever experienced stage fright while performing? How did you overcome it?
I have only experienced stage fright as Bunny once. In 2007, I performed my largest performance to date, hosting Oberlin Drag Ball in Ohio, close to 2000 people. I was to be sent down an elevator for my opening appearance and I was terrified. I waited for close to 30 mins for the damn thing to go down and for the show to start. I kept saying "Let's get this started, I'm scared being up here!" but the show never started. Finally, someone came to me, up in the stage grid and said, "We're waiting for your call to start!" I had no idea that I was supposed to give the word. I said go, and I felt the thing go down to the stage and I almost died of fright.

Have you ever won any titles/awards?
Princess of Southern Maine Pride 2006-2008.

Good or bad, tell me about some of your backstage experiences with other queens.
I have always had an easy time getting along with other queens. I have seen everything from catty comments, to full blown fights but I have never been on the receiving end of them (thankfully). There was one time backstage, while I was hosting an amateur drag competition that a queen competing threw a HUGE hissy fit trying to get a thigh high boot on. She literally lost her damn mind, screaming, crying, kicking, swearing, hitting her friend to help her. I remember thingking to myself, "I will never take drag as seriously as that girl..." (btw, this is NO one we know, this girl lasted very shortly on the scene, mostly due to her bad attitude). I was in shock at what I was seeing, and couldn't believe that someone would react so violently to putting on a fucking boot...

Shaunna Rai does her own makeup, and hair. She sometimes hires out Benni Bernard for costumes, when it's not something that she can do on her own.  Do you do all your own hair, makeup and costuming? Or, do you have help with some or all of the above?
"I do my own makeup, hair and costumes. I usually buy wigs online and then style them myself, add hair, additions. Costumes, I buy a silhouette I think works well for me, and add to it. Makeup has pretty much always been the same "palate" if you will. With tweaks and the like thrown in over the years.

I've had so many "adventures, since I started hanging out with Dan/Shaunna Rai. Tell me about a memorable adventure that you've had that you would not have had if not for drag.
What I'm doing now would not be possible without my yeats as Bunny. I currently run a series at a professional theatre that combines drag, burlesque, film and onstage industry professionals from film. Basically, I host a night of cult films, and we have someone from that film do an onstage interview with Bunny. I've worked with everyone from Lloyd Kaufman (Toxic Avenger), Rae Dawn Chong (Color Purple, Commando) to Michael Finnell (Gremlins) and Noah Hathaway (The Neverending Story).

When you're out of drag, what do you do? (ie. Work, fun, etc.)
I work as a producer/arts programmer for Seacoast Repertory Theatre. I also am a resident actor for the Rep as well. I serve on a bunch of Arts boards including NHPTA (New Hampshire Professional Theatre Association) and the NH Chapter of TED Talks.

Obviously, I am not a drag queen, and I'm doing this to research what it is like to be one.  Tell me anything else that you think might be important for me to know, to get inside the head of a drag queen.
We crave attention. It is what fuels us. No matter what anyone says, it's always about attention and intention. And that, kind sir, is not a bad thing at all.