Viva Variety Has It All
BY SISTER DANA VAN IQUITY
What has dummies, divas, gyrating bellies, squirrel impersonations, exotic birds, gender illusion, a slam poetry champion and Judy Garland? Answer: Viva Variety! In this the 34th VV show, producer Steve Murray continued to amuse and amaze. The event was a benefit for Aguilas, a Latino organization supporting those with HIV/AIDS.
Murray introduced the first act, quipping, "We've had quite a few turkeys on stage, but this is the first live bird act - Skibber's Wonderment!". Skibber was definitely a candidate for "Queer Eye for the Clown Guy" in his clashing ensemble: bright plaid baggy pants, gaudy gem-embedded morning coat, yelow and oprange polka-dot tie, red fishnets, and red sneakers. His assistant Zip, tried to periodically imitate his magician boss behind his back. Hilariously unsuccessfully. Skibber, pulling scarf after scarf from what seemed an empty suitcase, then pulled from those silk remnants a big white cockatoo, like the bird from "BAretta". From a seemingly empty hatbox came a small parrot, followed by two white doves in an empty cage and a larger Macaw from avacant cannister. This acts was truly for the birds, and the audience was truly is awe.
Ray Ferrer, a Cuban-Irish queer spitfire, compared himself to a child of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, except for the fact that his Cuban fatehr decided to come out in his latter years. Growing up in New Yawk and taught by a Jewish woman, Ferrer said he should have reliazed there were gay genes in the family when his father chastised him for making dresses for his sister's Barbie... because they didn't properly accentuate her figure!
Singer/songwriter Kristi Martel sang orginal compositions from her third CD, playing on keyboards. I must insert a critique I have of som many vocalilsts who play their own musical accompaniment: if you take all that creative energy to write what appears to be very clever, moving lyrics, do not override the words with overly loud accompaniment. Her first number, from what i could determine was "So Sweet." Her second song, "Give" was about settling for crumbs in a love affair.
Meliza Banales, the 2002 Oakland Grand Slam Poetry Champio and the first Latina to win the Bay Area Grand Slam Championship award, recited from her newest book, "Say It With Your Whole Mouth." Her first poetic work was abut adding up the math of racial discrimination to arrive at the sum of disadvantage. And her second piece concerned the discrimination she suffered from the age of 13 when her breasts blossomed bodaciously into "torpedo tits," but when as an older girl she grew to love her growing goodies and how that she wishes now she could go back and tell her child self what glory was in store.
What could follow but the wonderfully womanizing drag king Rusty Hips, who claimed to be the best choice for Governor. As he danced with his backup gals to Creedence Clearwater's "Hail to the Chief," he produced and tore up B&W headshots of his rival candidates - Ahnuld, Gary Coleman, and Larry Flynt - while scantily clad girlies campaigned with glittered placards stating, "Vote for Hips, he'll lick your nips!"
Connie Champagne treated the audience to a few of the numbers from her recent smash engagement at teh Plsh Room, doing a delightfully dead-on impression of La Garland, with all the Judy mannerisms and movements. She introduced her first number from "Falsettos," wryly suggesting, "Iwant you to imagine I'm a gay man singing this, because more often than not, a gay man will be impersonating me." After this wacky, slightly dirty ditty, she followed with a heart-wrenching "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables. The audience gave her a stomping ovation, so she encored with the Graland signature number "San Francisco," and got everybody clapping and singing the chorus. Ya just gotta love this woman and all the tremendous talent that continuously bubbles over Champagne!
Velocity Circus has provided many a fabulous act for VV, and that night did not disappoint, giving us Diva the Techno Soprano. Wearing somrhing from way out of space, this accomplished coloratura singer reached unbelievably high notes while recorded traditional Italian opera music accompanied her;and when it turned into a tehcno house sound, D the TS moved right along unfazed into the most incredible recitative and aria imaginable.
The final act was comic Betsy Salkind, who has been a writer for Roseanne Barr and has been on Jay Leno's Tonight Show. Much of her set concerned her life in Los Angeles, especially the freeways. Shew couldn't quite comprehend how it was possible to have a 195-car pileup: "The first ten or so I can understand, but by the time your the 30th car, WHAT is the natter with these drivers? And by the time your'e the 195th, you're a fucking idiot, because it's already been on the news!" She also spoke of her difficult Jewish heritage, being raised ion a Catholic school. The kids told me I couldn't take communion -'You killed Him; you can't eat Him too!" She did a frightening impression of a seagull, and finished off with an uncanny interpretation of a a squirrel eating a large matzoh cracker.
The next Viva Variety will be Nov. 4 as a benefit for Community United Against Violence. Call (415) 863-0741 for tickets. $15 in advance or pay $18 at the door. These shows are the greatest!