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G • B • SHAW’S Sliavv turns cherished |
B ideas of love and ;
patriotism topsy-turvy j
in this "entertaining j
of wits, manners J
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A T HOWELL THEATRE '
rt k APRIL 20 -28 |
1 Li X PM
&npur ’ MM UNL THEATRE j
1 fit JSM & DANCE
_ _ _ _ T 12TH & R STREETS
MAN M 472-2°73!
v : isstrir jraaCaSSH..
H a O a T
Good thru April 18lh. OPEN
1300 Q STREET MON.-FRI. 8-5:30
(402) 476-0111 SAT. 9-5:30
Wc Accept Major Credit Onda THURS. TIL9PM
More than ever, more than a Bookstore.
Duds ’n Suds has applied for a beer license.
A public hearing and vote on this request
is scheduled for April 16 at 1:30 p.m. at the
City County Building located at 555 So. 10th.
We Need Your Support!!
Bring in this ad for ONE FREE WASH
and support us by attending the public
hearing or sign the "Customer Support Sheet"
located at Duds n Suds. I
UiUDSrvSUDS
139 North 27th St.
EXPIRES 4/29/90
Fe/male
Continued from Page 6
The first number would be a
duo dance/lip sync routine of “Drop
that Bottom,” by L’TRIMM, a rhythm
and rap song featuring Mercedes
and Champagne. Right before they
went on stage B.B.Q. hollered out
from the dressing room to them,
“go break a nail.”
Mercedes and Champagne saun
tered onto stage and exploded into
action, using every square inch of
the 25-by-7 foot stage. During this
routine they distinguished them
selves both as dynamic dancers
(no small feet, excuse the pun, for
anyone wearing high-heel pumps)
and as good lip syncers - setting
the high-energy tempo for the rest
of the show
For almost the next two hours,
these four men entertained the 60
or so people in the audience, con
vincing them they were women.
Convincing is the only word for
these impersonators.
They looked like women, from
the makeup and hair to the dresses
they wore and the way they filled
them out.
They moved like women, from
the delicate way they held the
microphone w hen they sang or the
way they daintily kissed their hand
and waved to the audience when
they finished a number, to the way
they moved their hips when they
walked.
They acted like women, all kinds
of women. A flapper Carmen Mi
randa, complete with tropical fruit
headwear. A leather- and chain
clad, new wave glam, sado-maso
chistic dominatnx. An innocent prom
queen. Gloria Fstafan F'ven Paula
Abdul, complete with M C. Cal
One ouick change after the other,
after the other, after the other. All
night long.
Well, they almost always acted
like women. About midway through
the first set, TASHA was perform
ing a very saucy dance routine. He
w as wcari ng a i evea 1 i ng, extremely
loose-fitting, sparkly, silver disco
toga mini-dress and was insinuat
ing himself all up and dowm the
stage, much to the audience’s de
light. He was shaking everything
he had, making prolonged eye
contact with everyone and pouting
sensually. The audience was clap
ping in time with the lively beat
After awhile, the clapping fizzled
out The audience was completely
engrossed. Then TASHA stopped
what he was doing, put his hands
on his hips, threw his head back
and said with a note of disdain, “1
didn’t tell you to stop clapping.”
Only in a man’s voice.
But that kind of breaking char
acter, if done right, seems to be part
of the humor of the show — re
minding the audience who and
what these performers really are
.after all.
By about 12:30 a m., the show
was over. Mercedes was worn out.
Champagne was disgusted. B.B.Q.
was quiet and reflective. And TAS11A
was all wound up and glowing.
Champagne, Mercedes and
B.B.Q. have been performing as
female impersonators for less than
a year, which is pretty amazing
considering the level of profes
sionalism of their performances.
TASHA has been performing for 7
1/2 years. Another Lincoln imper
sonator, Lafayette, who didn’t per
form Sunday night, has 13 years
experience. Ibey all agree female
impersonation is a lot of things It’s
hard work. It’s fun. And it’s a fasci
nating form of entertainment.
Hard Work
Practice. Female impersonators
must learn to look and move like
women Accordingto.MartyCrowl,
bar manager and show director at
the Boardwalk, many impersona
tors spend 20 hours a week just
practicing old routines and work
ing up new ones. And if the per
formers are getting ready for an up
coming show', they take even more
time They must pay attention to
many small music, costume, prop
and makeup details, in addition to
rehearsal time. Crow! said it is not
uncommon for a performer to spend
100 hours practicing and preparing
for a two-nour show.
Crowl said female impersona
tors must learn to overexaggerale
feminine qualities to be believable.
‘‘Since you are a man and are
probably bigger-boned and have a
larger face and different hair, you
have to overdo the femininity to
pull it off,” Crowl said ‘ Alexis
Carrington (.from the television show
Dynasty*) isiheepitome ofagood
drag queen, because everything
she docs is exaggerated, from her
bust line to her pumps ”
Impersonators also need to leam
some basic skills and know which
physical qualities to exaggerate and
which to minimize to make them
selves believable.
‘‘The main important thing is to
learn how to walk in pumps,”
Champagne said.
“I nave to pul on extra lips,
See FE/MALE on 10
Think.
Clockwise from top left: Cham
pagne Lorraine poses for a pic
ture before he finishes dress
ing.
Lafayette has performed in Lin
coln and throughout the Mid
west for the last 13 years. His
specialty is Aretha Franklin
impersonations.
Mercedes applies blush to his
face.
Mercedes ad j usts his dress back
stage.
A makeup'kit, bobby pins and
cigarettes cram the table.
Photo of Lafayette
Courtesy of Lafayette
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Williamson Oldsmobilc is offering college graduates special GMAC
financing on all new Oldsmobiles + a S600 rebate.
In addition, if you finance the car with GMAC your first payment is I
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on 1990 models. Show off your smarts by checking out
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All terms are subject to iinane'e approval.
-MUuwt*ert__ □ids I
21 st & N Lincoln 437-1200
I From the home office in Lincoln. Nebraska.
THE TOP TEN THINGS TO DO
on Friday and Saturday from 10 p.rn to Midnite. , |
I «V3lentino& ,
The Pizza Restaurant
That Didn't Stop With Pizza
13th & Q • 35th & Holdrege