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June 2, 2006
This show ain't a drag
Shooting Stars benefit warms up the crowd.
KELLEY KORBIN
On Monday night, the Stanley Theatre was home to more sequins,
glitter and tiaras than a little girl's birthday party at the fifth
annual Fit for a Queen drag show.
Hosted by the funny and irreverent Joan-E (Robert Kaiser), who used
the opportunity to showcase a different and fabulous outfit, wig
and jewelry for almost every one of the 18 lip-synched acts, the
event was a huge success for the Shooting Stars Foundation in support
of direct service HIV/AIDS agencies.
The cast was a real mix of old and young, slim and buxom drag queens
– some definitely more capable at upholding the illusion than
others – but boy, could they all dance in their stilettos!
Among the highlights of the show were performances by the Jewish
community's own Vivian Von Brokenhymen (Cameron Miller) who was
introduced by Joan-E as the "founding charter member of the
Canadian Kosher Cross-Dressing Association."
Von Brokenhymen lip-synched and shimmied her way through "Crazy
on You" and a fabulous rendition of "Mama, I'm a Big Girl
Now" with co-performers Hope Diamond (Grant Sheinin, also a
member of the Jewish community) and Iona Whipp (Aron Brown).
Twenty-six members of Von Brokenhyman's family came to see the show,
including her two grandmothers, Barbara Dupont and June Taylor.
Taylor said that going to see her grandchild perform has "been
a good thing for the family, it's broadened their acceptance of
him." She added that Von Brokenhyman has been singing and dancing
since the age of two.
Other show stand-outs included Joan-E who, decked out in a feather-edged
peignoir, glittering tiara and high-heeled feather slippers, sang
Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" while alternately impersonating
Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Carol Channing. Symone (Christopher
Hume), who is considered one of Vancouver's premier gender illusionists,
and Milan (Paddy Ma), a past Ms. Gay Vancouver, also gave regal
performances.
The show's finale included a fun impersonation montage by all 15
drag queens, with appearances by the usual icons of drag queen culture,
including Cher, Dolly Parton, Barbara Streisand and Tina Turner.
By the sound of the applause and cat calls, the sold-out crowd clearly
appreciated the efforts of the performers, who all donated their
time for the Shooting Stars Foundation.
Kelley Korbin is a freelance writer living in West Vancouver.
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