I'm On the Outside, Looking In

I have a bad habit of being anti-social, so it always surprises me when people consciously choose to spend time with me.

When the Seacoast Rep Theater announced that they were going to do a show with Jujubee from Season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race, I decided that I wanted to go. My schedule worked for it to happen, because I chose to work an overnight shift the night before, in exchange for the weekend off.
Our friends Wendy, Cody and Frank, who we met during last summer's shows were all going as well.

So, plans were made to meet for dinner, then go see the show, and maybe go for drinks after. We went to Dos Amigos, a Mexican restaurant, and got dinner. I was shocked that Wendy decided to foot the bill for both Dan and myself. (Not that I should've been. She's super sweet.)

During dinner, we caught up a bit. And, the boys said they would meet us at the theater, because they were running behind.  Dinner for me was a large thing of chicken nachos (I ate all of them) and a margarita.

Rainbow Frite

The walk back to the theater was icy. The wind was blowing, and the temperature couldn't have been any more than 20°, if that. So, there was a lot of walking fast and not a lot of talking.

We got to the theater and picked up our tickets. And, I realized how much I missed the shows that Shaunna Rai did over the summer. It felt weird to be there without Miss E,on. It was  even weirder to not be hauling Shaunna down to the depths of the building.  It became such a habit dragging the suitcase down the steps, praying that I didn't lose my balance and fall down them.

Discussion, while we waited for the boys turned to the new season of Drag Race, and its mysterious premiere date change. I tend to be a listener, and take in bits and pieces of conversation around me, as well as the people who are actually talking to me. A little ways away, across the room, there was a group of older people. The last time I had seen them, there were two elderly ladies talking, and all of a sudden, I hear, "Do you know how to twerk?" And, so, I had to turn around and see what was going on. Sadly, turning around ruined the picture in my mind.

The boys finally showed up, and it was a, "Hi, you've you been? Wanna go for drinks later?" Before turning back to Drag Race. And, I realized that I need to do some rewatching of old seasons.  As a fan of the show, and drag in general, I should know who Yara Sofia is, and I should also have some idea of what some of my favorite queens look like out of drag.

Lili Whiteass

The crowd finally started to move toward the doors, and the wait was on.  Finally the doors opened, and I felt a bit like a cow being led to slaughter...there were so many people trying to get in at the same time.  I almost lost Dan.  And, I got stuck next to a girl who smelled like a ferret.  It was great... I was glad when I finally got ahead of her, and the smell was gone.

My old spot, with Wendy and the boys was taken by the older group.  So, we got second row, center.  Not a bad place to be, but for pictures, the front row is definitely better.

I told Dan how the whole feeling this time, was different than the shows during last summer.  For one, there was no going backstage.  It's weird having that freedom, to just disappear backstage, and say hi, or get drink orders, or whatever, and then having that freedom taken away.  It's kind of like the experience that everyone else gets when they go to a show, I guess.  I wanted to go say hi to Bunny, but, it wasn't appropriate this time.

Delta Miles and DA Michael

The show started like the Red Light Series Drag Race girl shows did, with an introduction to each of the queens.  And, I started my ritual of taking pictures.   And, then I went into a full blown panic.  During the short break between the introduction, and the start of the first number, I checked out the pictures...and they were bad.  Like you couldn't even tell what I was taking pictures of.  So, I started playing around with every setting on the camera that I could play with, to get it right.

Bunny Wonderland started off the night, with her high energy performance, getting the crowd prepared for the amazing night to come.

Rainbow Frite was up next.  I had seen Rainbow Frite in Boston, at Jacques, before, however, it was as a server, not as a performer.  I didn't realize that Rainbow Frite was a singer, and I especially didn't expect her to come into the second row to grab tips...and then climb on my lap, and ask me to say "Cock and Balls" on the mic.  As usual, the embarassment took over, and I was ready to die.  And, at the same time, I was enjoying the hell out of it.  I will admit, while it looks like I'm cringing on the outside, and wishing that I could die, on the inside, I'm so excited to be picked on that it's not even funny.  And, I spent part of the time wondering what Dan was thinking, while all this was happening.  (Apparently, he expected it to happen, and it was all cool, I guess.)

JuJubee

Lili Whiteass went next.  She came out in a pink gown, blonde hair and a beaver skin hat. And, then she started singing.  It took me a minute to recognize the song, because in my head, it had to be a "girl" song...only, it wasn't.  It was Billy Joel's  Leningrad.  I was pretty much blown away.

Next, was Delta Miles.  Well, it was supposed to be...until there were technical difficulties.  (I was surprised that it was "technical difficulties", because generally, at a drag show, they're called "testicle difficulties"... With a dead mic, Delta came out, and gave the sound crew hell, then went on for a bit with no mic.  She asked if anyone had a birthday, and it turned out that a guy named Michael  muchdid.  And, it turned out that he was a DA.  And, she pulled him up on stage, and used him in her number, as a prop.  And, he seemed to love it.  And, I just couldn't stop laughing.  She was hilarious.

Bunny Wonderland

Jujubee was up next.  She was beautiful.  I wish that I could remember all the songs that all the performers did.  Juju came out with the perfect hair, a tear-away and a stoned leotard.  I remember when Juju came to Styxx, almost being disappointed in her performance.  I'm not really sure what it was that she did differently, if anything, but I was so much more impressed with her performance this time.  (Which was good, since Jujubee has always been one of my favorite RuPaul girls.)

Rainbow Frite performing
Memory

Bunny came out again.  I can't even describe how much I enjoy Bunny's performances.  They're usually a bunch of songs mixed together, along with soundbites from movies.  And, I think for anyone else, it would come off as odd, but for Bunny, it just works...with the high energy that she throws into her performances.

Rainbow Frite came back out, and did a mix of The E-Harmony Cat Lady Song and Memory from the Broadway Show Cats.  I nearly died with the E-Harmony Cat Lady part, because, although I knew of the song, it had been a long time since I had actually heard it, and I totally wasn't expecting it.  When it switched over to Memory, I did what I always do...I broke out in song, along with it...all the while, snapping pictures.

Lili Whiteass, Anything Goes

Lili Whiteass was up again, and cemented her place in my mind as someone with a ton of talent.  Anything Goes.  Not only was she singing it herself, but, my God, she could tap dance too! How is it that I don't ever think about all the hidden talents that queens have?  All too soon, the number was over.

JuJubee

Jujubee came back out.  At one point during her number, she talked to a girl in the audience.  She asked her about who she was with, and if it was her girlfriend...and it turned out to be her mother! At the end of the song, Juju and Bunny chatted for a little bit, before bringing on Delta.

Delta Miles

Delta Miles again called out the sound crew...and a drunk girl in the audience.  And, then proceeded into a number, in which she did 'shrooms, coke and some kind of pills, along with what I could only imagine was a pot cupcake.  Watching the various drugs take effect and lose their potency was a hilarious descent, which ended with her backward somersaulting off the stage.

Rainbow Frite

Intermission came up, and Dan asked me what I thought about the show.  I explained how funny it felt being "on the outside, looking in".  It felt weird having him in the audience with me, because Dan doesn't usually go to drag shows.  Shaunna does, and she only usually does, when she's in them. Dan, started talking to a couple of people behind us about Drag Race, and shows at Fran's Place.  Then he started talking to the people in the front row.  They explained how they like to go to shows.  They go visit a gay couple in Florida, who go to bed early, while they stay up and go to gay bars, because the people are nicer there,than they are at straight bars.  They gave an example of a couple of guys who gave up seats at the bar to them, because of their age (presumably, since they didn't come right out and say it.)

Bunny Wonderland

The show came back up, and Rainbow Frite was back up.  This was probably my least favorite of her numbers.  Although, I had to laugh.  Earlier in the show, someone had commented about the front row having a blanket, to keep them warm.  Rainbow, toward the end of the number, used the blanket to her advantage.  She went right to the front row, and simulated oral sex with the old man in front of me.  (I was a little relieved that it was him, and not me.)

Bunny was back again, for her next number.  Dan leaned over to tell me to make sure to get a picture of her outfit, (because Shaunna might need something like that in her future...)

Delta Miles

Delta was back again, and sought out Michael in the audience again, for an introduction to her number.  And, she had to shut up the drunk girl in the white tank top again.  Along with training Michael to play along with what she needed him to say, to introduce her song about Jealousy.  For whatever reason, during this number, I spent a lot of time, thinking about how much she reminds me of Miss E,on.

For the first time (and last time for the night) Lili Whiteass did a lip sync.  I was a little disappointed that it was actually a lip sync, until she came over to get some tips...when I realized that she was actually singing along to the lip sync.

Bunny popped back out for a final number, and a response to a letter to the editor,  that had been posted earlier in the week, criticizing the Rep management for allowing the drag shows and B-movie nights to happen.

Lili Whiteass

Juju came out for her last number.  And, I was panicking at this point.  My camera battery was just about dead.  And, for whatever reason, I had decided to just bring the camera, and not the camera bag, which has a backup camera in it...That'll teach me.  (You'd have thought I would've learned after I forgot to bring any camera to Cherry Lemonade's American Idol viewing party...) With a couple of pictures I got, though, you'd have thought that Juju knew that I was the one taking pictures, because, at one point, she was staring dead into the camera, and it was almost like the end of the night was just for me and my camera.

The show was over.  And, so, we followed the herd back upstairs, for an after party.  Dan and I stood back, as much as possible, to stay out of the way of everyone who was getting pictures taken with the queens.  As people started to file out of the building, I went to get my last drink of the night.  Finally, when most of the crowd was gone, I asked Dan to start getting some pictures with the girls.

JuJubee posing for my camera

My pictures with Delta Miles came first.  She was fun.  We took a couple of serious ones.  Then, she decided to cover my face with her hand.  And, then, when we were done taking pictures, the sleeve of her dress got caught in my earring.

Rainbow Frite decided that Dan needed to be in the picture too, so she took a selfie of us...which kind of made me happy, because we don't really have a lot of pictures of us together.

I was kind of star-struck with Lili Whiteass, just because of how surprised I was by her performance...and because at one point, she had followed me for a second or two on Instagram.  And, I told her so...and then got home to find that I either had imagined it, or it really was for a second or two, because when I checked my followers, she wasn't there.  But, I found out that if she had followed me, even for a second or two, it was a fluke, because she doesn't usually follow people she doesn't know personally.

And, finally, I needed to get another picture with Jujubee.  Having met her before, and being able to talk to her that time, I knew I could talk to her this time.  So, I asked for my picture with her, and told her that the last time I got a picture with her, she had bitten my lip.  She was going for that again, and, well, she missed.  the picture makes it look like she was trying to eat my chin.  Which, actually, I thought was awesome.

Finally, we were the last people, aside from the performers, there.  So, it was time to head out.  The boys were staying in Portsmouth, so they were planning to go out.  At that point, I was tired.  I'd worked the overnight, and only slept about 4 hours after getting home.  So, I chose to go home, instead of going out.  Although, plans were made for definitely going out, in March, when they all come for the Battle of the Seasons show, here in Portland.

The show was amazing.  The night was amazing.  The people were amazing.  And, I realize now, why I need to make more of an effort to talk to people.  I need more people like this in my life.  I need more situations like this in my life.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this a night to remember!

If negativity breeds misery, then positive energy breeds happiness.  And, we can all use a little more happiness in our lives.  

White Hot Winter

I spent a bunch of time last summer, working with a few of the RuPaul's Drag Race girls at the Seacoast Rep Theater, in Portsmouth, NH.  Jujubee, while not one who I worked with there, is overall one of my favorite queens from the show.  I'm going to try to make it to this, because I think I'm working the overnight the night before, so I should have the day off...and potentially the weekend as well, to recover.

Hope to see you there!

You Asked For It. It's Back! Red Light Presents: 

White Hot Winter: A Ru Paul's Drag Race Revue Starring JuJubee. January 16th 8PM only at Seacoast Rep. 

Start your engines, and slap on your snow tires! The Rep gets heated up this January with some of New England best and brightest drag stars. Featuring Jujubee from Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 2, and Boston's Best Queens, Lili Whiteass, Rainbow Frite, and Delta Miles. Hosted by Portsmouth's Own Queen of The 'B's, Bunny Wonderland. 

$25 per person, General Admission.

Tickets are on sale now, and are ALREADY HALF GONE! 
Go to www.seacoastrep.org to purchase your tickets today...

Dress Has Always Been My Strongest Suit

The universe has a strange way of making me totally aware that I have little control over other people. And, it tends to like to do so, at the most inconvenient times for me.

Asking for time off, so I can drive to a show is no big deal. Nor is getting the time off. But, getting out, on time, in a field of direct care, is nearly impossible,  when you need it to work for you.

The morning started off quiet. Too quiet. Which means something is brewing.  And sure enough, two hours to go, and all hell broke loose. And, my perfectly planned escape, to start my pick ups went to hell.

After a couple of intense texts, I had to resist the urge to sit out the last show, AND the urge to throw my cell out the window on 295. I picked up Benni, then headed back home to get Dan.

Recovering from stress, I stayed quiet for most of the ride to Portsmouth. And, given that Dan was driving,  and we were behind schedule,  I was a bit white knuckled the whole ride there.

Once we got there, I was sent on a quick shopping trip. Snacks for Shaunna, and something gluten-free for me, since I hadn't eaten anything all day. So, I walked around downtown Portsmouth, and saw a lady who had fallen on the sidewalk, surrounded by at least 7 EMT's. She seemed disoriented,  and I walked by as quickly as possible. I got back to the theater, and the "girls" were putting on faces. So, I did what I do best. I mowed down on Ruffles and Reserve's Pieces, and watched the transformations happen.

Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on base heavy, and work it out from there. Bunny Wonderland starts with the eyes, then works out the rest of her face. 

There are a lot of mixed feelings around this show. Happiness,  because tonight's show is sold out, with a two page waiting list for cancellations.  Sadness, because we haven't really done much with Bunny,  in spite of the fact that Shaunna was there for Bunny's inception. So, there was a lot of we have to do more like this (which I sincerely hope happens,  because not only is Bunny super sweet, but she's hilarious...and only her eyebrows scare me.) I'm excited to see Joslyn Fox again, because she was so kind in May when Shaunna worked with her in Ogunquit. And, because the other two shows went well, Bunny seems a little stressed out that something is going to go wrong.

Kitti Chanel arrives first,  with her entourage of boys, and comes bearing gifts of Mimosas. I gladly accept, and then quickly remembered why I dislike Champagne.

Joslyn arrived,  and I went back to the dressing room.  There was a quick introduction, and then Joslyn turned to me. "We're friends on Facebook, aren't we?" I said we are, because we are. She remembered that I had congratulated her on her marriage, as well. And, I kinda Geeked out, because, here is this tv personality,  and she knows who I am, and remembers me. At that point it was close to the start of the show, and to hide my fangirl-ing, I went up to claim my seat for the show.

Seating arrangements are backward this time. My new friend Wendy was on my left, and one of the Pinnacle vodka event people was on my right, with a couple of friends. The crowd was huge. I was shocked at how many people were there. And, I was reminded that a good reason for so many people was Joslyn herself. 

This show, in particular, seemed to be almost a show specifically for me. With me being photographer, everyone was posing for me anyway.  But this show, queens were seeking me out. During one of Joslyn's numbers,  there was a line about a bald man...so she came at me to rub my bald head...and almost fell in my lap. There was a one or two inch edge on the stage that she didn't realize was there. Later, Kitti Chanel came over, sat in my lap, turned sideways, with her head in the Pinnacle lady's lap and feet in Wendy's lap. Then, during Shaunna's final number, she was going for tips, and crawled up in my lap, chest in my face, to get her tip. 

By the end of the show, I was a bit worn down. I'd been up since 5:30am, and was going to have to be back up at 5:30 the next morning. We get to the Portsmouth Gaslight Co., and I realize that I'm starving and I'm running out of steam. Unlike the last After Party, I don't feel like being social, and taking a hundred and fifty billion pictures.  I just want to hang out and relax, before the long ride home.

Shaunna and E,on do their thing and socialize, and I follow along with my camera, just in case. I get a few pictures with Joslyn and some of her fans. I get a few pictures of My girls and their fans. Somewhere in the midst of this, Shaunna manages to get me hooked up with a couple who is looking to have engagement pictures redone by a new photographer, and would like to have someone do their wedding pictures.

I get my own picture with Joslyn, just before we go. And, on the way home, Dan tells me that Joslyn (Patrick) and Andre would like to come to Portland and hang out with us. And, all I can think about, is how cool this night was. How much I can't wait for this to happen again next year. And, how much I'm going to hate waking up in three hours to get ready for work.

But, I want to give a huge thank you to Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai, Miss E,on, Manila Luzon, Jessica Wild, Joslyn Fox, Kitti Chanel, and Vanila Honey-Bush, for letting me tag along for these three shows, and not making me feel like I'm in the way. You're all amazing!