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One Night Stands: Janet, Riff Raff, and Stripping Crim.
Jan 18, 2012
Switch Nights are one of my most favorite, and anticipated shows in a Rocky term. There's always the pre name drawing anxiety of whether or not you'll get a part you have nothing but contempt for. But once that's past it's pure joy. I've always looked at it as a showcase of one's true talent. How well they can perform a role they've never done, and quite possibly never planned on doing. But it is also an opportunity of experience that will be with you on your Rocky resume forever.
My first Switch Night was for the Clinton Street Cabaret's 49th term, the first term I joined. My Switch Night part was Janet. I was instantly excited. Partly because I knew it was going to be fun, and also because at that time I had been cast as Eddie/sans Doctor Scott, so it was going to be a chance for me to have more screen time. Every Switch Night is given a theme that the cast votes on, and our chosen theme was, "Musicals, other than Rocky." My mind was conjuring up ideas from the start and by the end of the night I had reached my decision as to who I wanted to dress up as. Satine, the Nicole Kidman character from Moulin Rouge! My whole costume eventually turned into quite the Frankenstein project. For my red wig was supplied to me by our Doctor Scott, the two dresses I wore were loaned to me by our regular Janet, makeup was done for me by our Trixie, fishnets were borrowed from our Magenta, Black gloves from one of our trannys, and the heels were borrowed from our Tranny director. My Brad for the evening was a young lady who I've named Dijourno, who was dressed as Dr. Horrible. My intention was to go for screen accuracy as close as I could get. The fact that I was a guy didn't change the fact that I wanted to play Janet the way Janet was played on screen. It's custom for most people to add schtick to their performances based on their themed characters. Which I'm fond of. But there wasn't much shtick opportunities for Satine. The only two things I did do for the character was at the end of Damnit Janet, I kissed Brad in a very romantic style like that of Ewan McGreggor and Nicole Kidman in the films movie poster. And at the end of Super heroes, I crawled into Dr. Horrible's arms and died of consumption. Apart from that I was determined to play Janet to the hilt. I think what I was most excited about was Janet's bit during Floor Show. And looking back it's still my favorite moment, though most people told me they got the biggest kick out of Toucha Toucha Toucha Touch Me. Wonder why.
My second Switch Night performance was for the Cabaret's 50th term. The theme, happily suggested by me and chosen by the cast majority, was, "Cult Films." Originally, I had drawn, "Light B," but through some generous trades I eventually got Riff Raff as my Switch Night role. It didn't take me long to decide I was going to dress as Bert Schnick from, "Shock Treatment," after a lucky find of an Orange Jacket at Portland's Red Light vintage clothing exchange. It was a costume that was slowly put together over the next month and a half and the end result was something that I was very proud of. Practicing the sha-na-nas for, "Sword of Damocles," was about as equally challenging as the Floor Show shimmy's, but a rewarding learn in the end. I also remember being way too excited for, "There's a Light." At the Clinton Street Theatre whoever is playing Riff has to climb atop a wooden structure behind the curtain and peek out when Riff's first scene comes up. I remember being afraid I was going to fall and I almost didn't do it. Opting instead to just peek out from the curtain at the bottom of the stage. But since this was going to be a rare opportunity I knew I had to do it. When I pulled back the curtain the audience wooed and awed. At one point I completely evolved into Bert Schnick and was no longer Riff Raff, which everyone seemed to get a real kick out of as did I. In the end however I've concluded that Riff is just one of those parts I can't seem to get into. I can try my hardest but in the end, I know he's a character I would never audition for. And most likely never be cast as even if I tried.
Stripping Crim was a role I got to tackle not by the chance of any Switch Night drawing, but actually a guest performance opportunity requested by me to Portland's sister Rocky cast, "The Denton Delinquents." I've no shame in admitting that I've always had a bit of an exhibitionist side. After becoming close friends with the DD's I became somewhat of an Auxiliary member for their cast and one night, they needed a Crim. I jumped at the chance and once the director ok' ed my request to be Stripping Crim the rest lies in a pile of rumpled clothes on the stage floor. On excitement levels, Crim is about as fun and energizing for me as Riff. In order to make it fun I had to take my clothes off. And if I do Crim in the future, same rules will most likely have to apply. But for all those men out there who feel as though Stripping Crim may be a female dominated role in the world of naked skin Rocky, I am proud to represent equal opportunity. :D
The moral of this story is that every role is possible. You just have to apply yourself and all that you have to bring to the character. And who knows? You may discover a niche for a certain part you never thought was there.
My favorite moments as Frank
Jan 9, 2012
~ Every time I threw off the cape during Sweet T. the audience would break out into applause. Occasionally the audience would cheer and holler when I would turn around at the beginning of the song, and after the song was over. And a few times they would just cheer through the whole song.
~ Chasing after Rocky during, "Sword of Damocles," and lifting the lab gown up while screaming.
~ Making disgusted faces at Janet when she breaks into singing during, "Sword of Damocles(Reprise)" and during pool scene after eating her neck.
~ Using my own hair rather than a wig and being able to pull it off.
~ Being asked to have my picture taken with audience members and event spectators.
~ Waving goodbye to the nearest audience member while walking up the aisle during, "I'm Going Home."
~ Getting the chance to play Ed Wood Jr. as Frank for, "Fuck With Your Character Night.
~ At one show during, "Planet, Schmanet, Janet," as Frank starts to sing, "Don't get hot and flustered..." some guy from the audience shouted, "Yea work it honey, work it!" The amount of smiling made my face ache.
