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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2002)
5.2002 THEUTER BY AL SUES a jre sh mexîCan gr¡ H LS NIGHT OUT/ T h u rsd a y . J u l y 1 1 th Dingo’s VviD C e le b ra te U»e Forthtnc] vvitJi a donation o f a percentage of the evenings shoVv at the .\rlene Schnitzer A uditorium profits to • .\intj & FmiKj’s jîivorite charitij Höriö* rHereAWH During his times on stage, Pring says, “I’m the only man with heavy makeup on. I never had to wear such heavy makeup in my life! It’s a long process to put it on, hut it’s fun.” (Of course it is!) As Fire, Pring interacts with Water, Earth and Air. Compared to them, he says, “My character is more the hardcore, kung fu, ass-whipping guy.” (Think butch in drag.) “I appear throughout the show, kind of like the annoying little brother. He’s the catalyst, trying to provoke everybody, the little fire.” Dancers, really cute boys, a lot of French people, costumes, makeup— you’d think the place would be crawling with queers, wouldn’t you? “No, not at all,” says Pring. “I’m probably one of three, four.” Fortunately, one of those is a little clown named Felipe. ly mean much,” he says, then pauses. “But maybe it did mean something at that time. He tells the story much better than 1 do." Regardless, Pring continues on about how the French clown, who had only been with the com pany a few weeks himself, “ran backstage" to tell a fellow performer about the gorgeous hoy in the audience. According to Pring, the friend replied, “You’ll meet a lot of people in the audience,” to which Felipe shot back “No, this one is special." Turned out he was right. “When I went backstage to be introduced to everybody,” Pring relates, “he poked his friend and said, ‘T hat’s the guy from the audience.’ His friend said, ‘You fool, that’s the new Fire!’ ” So the fools fell in love “at first sight,” Pring says. “It was funny because he would play onstage and he’d keep looking at me, and he said, i swear to God, sometimes the spotlight ast fall when Pring was accepted into was on you....’ It’s really gushy-gushy.” Cirque, he traveled to Montreal for a The two are going on eight months now ¡-«•»month of training. Upon arrival, he attend ed the group’s evening show and “made eye with the company, enjoying all the travel and contact” with one of the clowns. “It didn’t real- seeing a lot of sights together. “We’re so happy; we’ve had a really great relationship. We get along very well; I think I’m very lucky.” Pring says members of the company have been incredibly supportive. “They’re just so happy we’re together.... I haven’t found myself yet in a place where it’s not supported...I wouldn’t stay. It’s important for me to feel comfortable.” But just because there aren’t many queers doesn’t mean there isn’t any, well, queemess. Pring points out the show’s two “narrators”— one male, one female— who come onstage to sing between acts. The male role has always been “ambiguous,” he says, “because his voice is a contratenor, which means he sings in falsetto...in heavy makeup, and he wears the long feather gown.” To prove his point, Pring proudly states that South Park has done a spoof of Cirque du Soleil, specifically of that very character. “It was hilari ous,” he exclaims. “They absolutely got it.” JP1 I JU LY ¿o Call (503) 790-ARTS or Toll Free (866) PDX-OPERA. WEBSAVER DISCOUNTS NOW AT broadwayacrossamerica com Tickets also on sale at Portland Opera (1515 SW Morrison), all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at broadwayacrossarnarica.com KELLER AUDITORIUM Portland Opera Presents Broadway in Portland You can still get tickets to Cirque du Soleil's D r a l io n , extended through July 14 under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau on Southwest Moody Avenue. Tickets are $31 .50-$65 from 800-678-5440 or www.cirquedusoleil.com.
