Female female impersonator Raven Snook managed to fool Maury
Povich’s audience. We’re confused!
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By Rachel Kramer Bussel
Friday, October 01, 2004
I’m the kind of person who gets obsessed easily. Lately, it’s been
all about comedy and cupcakes. I’ve realized recently that not only does
seemingly every comic in New York know each other, they all perform practically
nightly, often at free or very cheap venues. I caught “The Rejection Show”
(www.rejectionshow.com), featuring work such as passed over “Saturday Night
Live” skits as well as Giulia Rozzi’s home movie of her lipsyncing
to Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” part of the
upcoming “Movies I Made As A Kid” festival.
Giulia is inaugurating “Comedy Rocks” at Williamsburg’s the
Lucky Cat — the first one happened yesterday, with some of my favorite
gay comics, Claudia Cogan and Mark Sam Rosenthal. I also caught “Welcome
to our Week” at Rififi, where hosts Jessi Klein and Nick Kroll treated
us to their readings from Britney and Kevin’s “found” diaries.
For gay comedy, check out Katie McCabe’s weekly comedy showcase at Punch.
During the Fringe Festival, I went to see “Dog Sees God: Confessions
of a Teenage Blockhead,” which I thought was going to be a comedy. There
were definitely some laughs, but this “Peanuts” parody dealt with
a lot of issues, including gay bashing, in a way that was incredibly moving
and spiritual — as well as funny.
It was standing room only at Red Hots Burlesque on Sunday as the graduates
of the School of Shimmy took the stage for their dirty debuts. These hot mamas
are going to give the regulars a run for their money with all of their creative
acts, including one woman dressed as a bunny, complete with a carrot, and an
especially welcome Violet Valentino, the studly butch who wowed everyone with
her sideburns and Elvis act. She brought masculine glamour to the t&a and
glitter display.
I cheered especially loudly for the winner of “Best Name,” Candied
Yams, who shook her tailfeather to the Sublime song “Santeria.”
All of the tiara-clad performers were awarded well-deserved certificates for
their “PhDs in Take-Off-ology.” I also caught last week’s
Starshine Burlesque, hosted by the autumn-leaf-adorned Goddess Perlman, who
lamented to me that not enough dykes come out on Thursday nights.
It’s well worth it, especially for the bit in the set where lucky audience
members are given the chance to chug a bottle of beer from between the legs
of the sexy hostesses. Ladies, get your puckers ready!
Also standing room only, and insanely crowded, was Starlette. Perhaps everyone
heard that on a recent Sunday night, Ilene Chaiken and Jennifer Beals were at
this weekly shindig filming scenes for the Showtime dyke hit’s much-anticipated
second season.
At one of my favorite reading series, East Side Oral, you’re always guaranteed
at least something dirty, queer and scatological, Raven Snook shared her tale
of going on Maury Povich as a “female female impersonator,” tricking
an old lady into declaring her most assuredly a man.
I’m going to check out “Tesla Mania” at Collective Unconscious,
described thusly: “Feast your eyes on electric mayhem. Smell the fresh
scent of ozone, as bolts of electricity burst forth form the Tesla coil. Be
amazed at high voltage experiments!”
Next week, “Rent Girl” author and illustrator Michelle Tea and
Laurenn McCubbin swing into town from San Francisco, performing at Girlsalon
on Oct. 7 and Lucky 13 in Park Slope the next night. You can also catch Laurenn’s
art opening at Jigsaw on the Sixth.
Also on Oct. 6, it’s the “Fourth Annual Poly Pride Day” in
Central Park, for those for whom one is not enough.
Julie Atlas Muz’s play “I Am The Moon And You Are The Man On Me”
debuts at P.S. 122, Nov. 18. My book/birthday party for “Naughty Spanking
Stories from A to Z” is Nov. 14 at 10 p.m. at Suede.
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