Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Letter
The next week I was standing alone in the dressing room. I was all alone. Terry came barging in and dropped his three suitcases of drag crap. “Are you in here for a reason?” Terry asked me. “I am doing a show.” I answered. “Why? Why are you here? Why don’t you just go with your has-beens, Darling.”
“Listen up Darling, I am here and whether you like it or not I am staying. Maybe if you had enough talent to carry a show I wouldn’t have to be here.” Terry stormed out to get a drink and I hated that he made me so angry. I was determined that I was going to get the Featherette’s together again and I was not going to allow him to stop me.
Casper and Sami showed up and tossed Terry’s stuff out the side door. I giggled as Terry yelled at them, they just laughed in Terry’s face and took control of the place. Terry was smoking mad and you could see revenge in his eyes. He took himself to the kitchen to get ready for the show.
By the time the show started he was slurring his words and had his wig on backwards. No one had the patience’s for his childish attempts for attention. We did the show and I was the show stopper- I did a number called “Bobby’s Girl” dressed in a cheerleaders outfit. Last minute fear of bombing found me doing cartwheels and flips on the dance floor. I ended with a split and I think I can still feel the muscle strain today.
There is a truth about a performer getting strength and energy on stage. I used to go out on stage and never knew what was going to happen until it happened. I always remembered Peter’s blood dripping down his face as I clung onto his hair during our number and “16 Going on 17” number and kept going. This night I was flopping and I had to be good, I just kept thinking of Rodger and Alton.
For my finale I jumped on the skid row bar (Little bar upstairs on the dance floor) and did a flip off the bar and onto the center of the stage-the place went wild and I thanked God I was still alive. Afterwards one of the bartenders named Bobby thanked me for doing a song for him. He was cute so I went along with him- actually Hank had picked the song. I still wanted Johnny and was more determined than ever to win him. Casper had told me, “Girl If you are afraid to talk to him, just write him a letter.”
That night I went home and wrote THE LETTER…
Till Tomorrow, Be Kind
“Listen up Darling, I am here and whether you like it or not I am staying. Maybe if you had enough talent to carry a show I wouldn’t have to be here.” Terry stormed out to get a drink and I hated that he made me so angry. I was determined that I was going to get the Featherette’s together again and I was not going to allow him to stop me.
Casper and Sami showed up and tossed Terry’s stuff out the side door. I giggled as Terry yelled at them, they just laughed in Terry’s face and took control of the place. Terry was smoking mad and you could see revenge in his eyes. He took himself to the kitchen to get ready for the show.
By the time the show started he was slurring his words and had his wig on backwards. No one had the patience’s for his childish attempts for attention. We did the show and I was the show stopper- I did a number called “Bobby’s Girl” dressed in a cheerleaders outfit. Last minute fear of bombing found me doing cartwheels and flips on the dance floor. I ended with a split and I think I can still feel the muscle strain today.
There is a truth about a performer getting strength and energy on stage. I used to go out on stage and never knew what was going to happen until it happened. I always remembered Peter’s blood dripping down his face as I clung onto his hair during our number and “16 Going on 17” number and kept going. This night I was flopping and I had to be good, I just kept thinking of Rodger and Alton.
For my finale I jumped on the skid row bar (Little bar upstairs on the dance floor) and did a flip off the bar and onto the center of the stage-the place went wild and I thanked God I was still alive. Afterwards one of the bartenders named Bobby thanked me for doing a song for him. He was cute so I went along with him- actually Hank had picked the song. I still wanted Johnny and was more determined than ever to win him. Casper had told me, “Girl If you are afraid to talk to him, just write him a letter.”
That night I went home and wrote THE LETTER…
Till Tomorrow, Be Kind
Monday, March 1, 2010
The halloween show
That Halloween I was the sexy bride of Frankenstein…Hank decided to do a thriller Halloween. I was to perform “I live among the Creatures of the Night”, Alton was dressed as a damsel in distress performing “Holding out for a Hero” Casper was performing “Let’s hear it for the Boy” as a cheer leader and Sammy, who changed his name to Sami, “I’m a Brass Band” as a marching majorette twirling a baton. Terry did Michael Jackson’s Thriller protesting all the way. “If I didn’t look so good as Michael Jackson I would be embarrassed performing as a boy…Why am I telling you, you’re never embarrassed.” Terry directed his remarks to Alton. “Terry I know I am not a good performer, but I AM PRETTY IN DRAG! “ Alton snapped back at Terry. The dressing room stood silent. None of us ever had seen Alton lose his cool. I pulled him out the side door.
“Don’t let that poor man’s sex change get to you.” I said comforting Alton as we lit our cigarettes. “ It’s not Terry, It’s just not the same without Rodger.” I knew what he was saying and he was right. We weren’t into this stuff, we were into the friendship that happened. The we heard the beep of a car horn and turned to see Carol Burnett driving an open top jeep. “RODGER!!!” we both laughed and ran to the parking lot to see him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I landed in his front seat. “I was at home feeling sorry for myself and decided to dress up and crash the parking lot.” We laughed as Rodger drove us around. We laughed as we fooled around teasing the parking lot men. It’s not every night you meet Carol Burnett, The Bride of Frankenstein and a damsel in distress in the parking lot of Feathers.
We were telling Rodger how much we missed him when we heard Terry screaming outside the side door for us to come in for the show. We kissed Rodger good-bye and went inside. The bar never looked as dark as it did that moment we entered the dressing room. One minute we were laughing with the full burst of joy that laughter is supposed to evoke and the next we are carrying the chains of hell as we prepared to perform for the people who just wanted to make fun of us.
The thing about performing in a gay bar is you know people aren’t there to throw roses, more like daggers. No one tells you how great you were, just how your make up looked scary or your heels didn’t match your dress.
Alton was nervous about his song. He wasn’t feeling it. I told him to leave it to me…I tied his arms behind him and attached the rope to the shelf behind the stage curtain…”They won’t expect you to move and dance because you’re tied up.” He was a hit, but depressed after the show.
“I think I am going to talk to Hank about leaving the shows…I met a guy and he’s not into drag queens.” Alton confided in me. “When did you meet this guy? And why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded to know. “I met him about a month ago…I tried telling you, but you get so caught up in these shows. “ “Alton I have to get Rodger back?” “Well when you do then I’ll return. I love you Eddy”
Alton left the shows that night and Hank banished him from our memory. I had to hold on to pictures and my determination to get us back on the stage. They were my friends and I had to make it right. I had to!
Till tomorrow, be kind
“Don’t let that poor man’s sex change get to you.” I said comforting Alton as we lit our cigarettes. “ It’s not Terry, It’s just not the same without Rodger.” I knew what he was saying and he was right. We weren’t into this stuff, we were into the friendship that happened. The we heard the beep of a car horn and turned to see Carol Burnett driving an open top jeep. “RODGER!!!” we both laughed and ran to the parking lot to see him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I landed in his front seat. “I was at home feeling sorry for myself and decided to dress up and crash the parking lot.” We laughed as Rodger drove us around. We laughed as we fooled around teasing the parking lot men. It’s not every night you meet Carol Burnett, The Bride of Frankenstein and a damsel in distress in the parking lot of Feathers.
We were telling Rodger how much we missed him when we heard Terry screaming outside the side door for us to come in for the show. We kissed Rodger good-bye and went inside. The bar never looked as dark as it did that moment we entered the dressing room. One minute we were laughing with the full burst of joy that laughter is supposed to evoke and the next we are carrying the chains of hell as we prepared to perform for the people who just wanted to make fun of us.
The thing about performing in a gay bar is you know people aren’t there to throw roses, more like daggers. No one tells you how great you were, just how your make up looked scary or your heels didn’t match your dress.
Alton was nervous about his song. He wasn’t feeling it. I told him to leave it to me…I tied his arms behind him and attached the rope to the shelf behind the stage curtain…”They won’t expect you to move and dance because you’re tied up.” He was a hit, but depressed after the show.
“I think I am going to talk to Hank about leaving the shows…I met a guy and he’s not into drag queens.” Alton confided in me. “When did you meet this guy? And why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded to know. “I met him about a month ago…I tried telling you, but you get so caught up in these shows. “ “Alton I have to get Rodger back?” “Well when you do then I’ll return. I love you Eddy”
Alton left the shows that night and Hank banished him from our memory. I had to hold on to pictures and my determination to get us back on the stage. They were my friends and I had to make it right. I had to!
Till tomorrow, be kind
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
TONY MONA
OMG! Halloween at Feathers!! It was like the coming of the pope. We would clean the bar and come up with the most outrageous costumes. I am not sure if it was the first Halloween or the second, But, I was determined to be the “sexy” bride of Frankenstein. Copying Marlena from “Days Of Our Lives” I had wanted to have silver sequin lightning bolts on both my hair and breast and a white skin tight dress. I could not find it in any store.
One night during Alton and my “cry fest” after a night of drinking a voice said, “I can help you find a dress for free.” I turned to see a 7 foot Brooke Shields, who turned out to be Tony Mona. “How?” I asked, still unsure of what I was looking at. He went on to explain that he had a secret way of getting dresses to wear.
Mind you this was my first introduction to Tony. He was in love with this guy named Frank and would drive around the parking lot smoking cigarettes and pot crying that Frank didn’t love him. Tony was 17 years old and couldn’t get into the bar. Frank would run into the bar to get away from Tony. Every time the front door opened you would hear “Frank Frank I love you” slam- the door would shut…. “Frank Frank I love you” slam- the door would shut…“Frank Frank I love you” slam- the door would shut…Little Sal, the Italian bouncer, got a kick out of how sad Tony was and would open the door just to hear it.
Tony didn’t have a car, but had a friend named Barbara who drove a Subaru and lived to make Tony happy. Tony, on the other hand, was determined not to be happy. All he did was moan about how horrible his life was- at 17. That is how he got his neck-name Tony Moaner….Tony Mona.
So Alton and I asked Tony about this free dress thing. Tony said he would take us there. We got into Alton’s car and drove up to Upper Saddle River and into a supermarket parking lot. Tony tells Alton to drive towards the Goodwill Dumpster and shine his lights and Beep! Alton does what he says and these two cars take off and these shadows jump out of the dumpsters and take off. “What the F…?” I thought- “Where the hell are you taking us? “I asked Tony… “Dumpster Diving…Had to get rid of the competition.” “What?” Alton giggled as he waited for a reply.
“Dumpster Diving. You dive into the Goodwill Dumpsters and search for dresses and whatever you are looking for.” Alton parked the car and Tony continued to explain as we got out of the car. “Really what poor person is going to wear a sequin butterfly mid drift?” “He has a point.” Alton tried to rationalize. “He wants us to dive into goodwill dumpsters and go clothes shopping.”
Tony, remember he is dressed in drag, hopped up onto the Goodwill bin and as he faded into the dark dumpster we heard- “Last one in gets the skid mark underwear.” “At what point did my life take this turn?” I said to Alton as we watched in amazement.
All we heard was “Ouuu Mama…Beautiful!”, “Too tight”, “Fab-boo”. “I’m going to throw some stuff out at you…put them in the car. I’ll see if anything is in your size.” Oh My God! He was right these hundred and thousand dollar dresses were being thrown at us. Prom dresses, mother of the bride dresses, evening wear, day wear. I was amazed.
Tony got himself out of the dumpster and started to size things up. He gave Alton a great prom dress that was just up Alton’s alley. ”Here I think this will fit you.” He said as he handed a white dress to me. It was my Sexy Bride of Frankenstein dress! Tony said he would teach me how to make sequin thunderbolts.
As we drove back to the bar, Tony went on to explain how he only jumps into dumpsters in good neighborhoods and not to waste your time in poor neighborhoods. “Not worth getting in trouble- Besides, some people live in them I jumped into one and a homeless man was in there! Hey, it’s warm and out of the cold.” He had a point.
On the way home Alton and I could not stop laughing. Feathers was giving us an education and life experiences that no one could prepare us for… I just kept picturing Tony Mona dressed as a 7 foot Brooke Shields jumping into a Dumpster and landing on a homeless person. Is it any surprise that Tony Mona would become my "gay Daughter"
Till Tomorrow, be kind
One night during Alton and my “cry fest” after a night of drinking a voice said, “I can help you find a dress for free.” I turned to see a 7 foot Brooke Shields, who turned out to be Tony Mona. “How?” I asked, still unsure of what I was looking at. He went on to explain that he had a secret way of getting dresses to wear.
Mind you this was my first introduction to Tony. He was in love with this guy named Frank and would drive around the parking lot smoking cigarettes and pot crying that Frank didn’t love him. Tony was 17 years old and couldn’t get into the bar. Frank would run into the bar to get away from Tony. Every time the front door opened you would hear “Frank Frank I love you” slam- the door would shut…. “Frank Frank I love you” slam- the door would shut…“Frank Frank I love you” slam- the door would shut…Little Sal, the Italian bouncer, got a kick out of how sad Tony was and would open the door just to hear it.
Tony didn’t have a car, but had a friend named Barbara who drove a Subaru and lived to make Tony happy. Tony, on the other hand, was determined not to be happy. All he did was moan about how horrible his life was- at 17. That is how he got his neck-name Tony Moaner….Tony Mona.
So Alton and I asked Tony about this free dress thing. Tony said he would take us there. We got into Alton’s car and drove up to Upper Saddle River and into a supermarket parking lot. Tony tells Alton to drive towards the Goodwill Dumpster and shine his lights and Beep! Alton does what he says and these two cars take off and these shadows jump out of the dumpsters and take off. “What the F…?” I thought- “Where the hell are you taking us? “I asked Tony… “Dumpster Diving…Had to get rid of the competition.” “What?” Alton giggled as he waited for a reply.
“Dumpster Diving. You dive into the Goodwill Dumpsters and search for dresses and whatever you are looking for.” Alton parked the car and Tony continued to explain as we got out of the car. “Really what poor person is going to wear a sequin butterfly mid drift?” “He has a point.” Alton tried to rationalize. “He wants us to dive into goodwill dumpsters and go clothes shopping.”
Tony, remember he is dressed in drag, hopped up onto the Goodwill bin and as he faded into the dark dumpster we heard- “Last one in gets the skid mark underwear.” “At what point did my life take this turn?” I said to Alton as we watched in amazement.
All we heard was “Ouuu Mama…Beautiful!”, “Too tight”, “Fab-boo”. “I’m going to throw some stuff out at you…put them in the car. I’ll see if anything is in your size.” Oh My God! He was right these hundred and thousand dollar dresses were being thrown at us. Prom dresses, mother of the bride dresses, evening wear, day wear. I was amazed.
Tony got himself out of the dumpster and started to size things up. He gave Alton a great prom dress that was just up Alton’s alley. ”Here I think this will fit you.” He said as he handed a white dress to me. It was my Sexy Bride of Frankenstein dress! Tony said he would teach me how to make sequin thunderbolts.
As we drove back to the bar, Tony went on to explain how he only jumps into dumpsters in good neighborhoods and not to waste your time in poor neighborhoods. “Not worth getting in trouble- Besides, some people live in them I jumped into one and a homeless man was in there! Hey, it’s warm and out of the cold.” He had a point.
On the way home Alton and I could not stop laughing. Feathers was giving us an education and life experiences that no one could prepare us for… I just kept picturing Tony Mona dressed as a 7 foot Brooke Shields jumping into a Dumpster and landing on a homeless person. Is it any surprise that Tony Mona would become my "gay Daughter"
Till Tomorrow, be kind
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