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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2007)
OCTOBER 19. 2007 JUStlOUt 37 Costume Drama Dressing up for work and play ail Caesar,” the waiting throng announced as I arrived. Or, more accurately, “Hail, Licentius Caeser." Of course, I wasn’t arriving at the Roman Coliseum but the Southeast Portland apartment of drag queen Wayne “Celeste Towers” Chamberlain, who was throwing a mur der mystery party with a different sort of drag theme. Wayne started throwing mystery parties in the late ’80s for friends. Success enabled him to turn the games into a business, which he’s now resur recting. Hosts choose among various themes (1920s gangster Chicago, 1930s English countryside, 1940s Nazi Germany), and everyone is expected to wear a costume—in my case, a queen-size sheet (no pun intended) and purple satin fabric gathered to resemble a toga. Unfortunately, the folds of my toga forced me to stand with an arm outstretched all night long, which just looked like I was waiting for my deodorant to dry. Included with the game was a tour-course meal prepared by the statuesque Celeste, whose 6-foot-3 Portland BY FLOYD SKLAVER Vancouver, WA 360.433.6100 - 1 WIN.$1000 FREE code 4517 For Details Visit MegaMates.com For other cibe* call (888) MegaMates (888)MngaMat»t 18* C jooypcllc TALK IS CHEAP, flCTIOIl TALKS! Portland: Vancouver: Seattle: Everett: Tacoma ALYCE CORNYN SELBY behind the scenes mnning each and every perform ance and rehearsal. Now she is one of the few women in the nation leading a major company’s production team. Among the cast were gay artists Paul Arensmeyer and Stephen O’Donnell, who were supernumeraries (extras) along with James Holstad. Having been a super myself in the past four productions, I felt lonely being in rhe audi ence until I discovered that Marc and I were sitting in the gay section. In front of us were Susan Lucas and Heidi Schilling, who were wearing match ing rings after just six months together. They met at a birthday party, and after spending a pas sionate night together, Heidi asked Susan to bring over her coffeepot. Instead, Susan tokl me, she “brought the whole house." To.our right were Mike Caughell and Mark Ruth erford, whom we had met seven years earlier while in Palm Springs, Calif., watch ing a pom film being shot. Tins is their fourth season as opera subscribers, and both Floyd cracks the case with "The Lovely" Suzanne Hale. are rabid Puccini fans. frame towers over her guests even without the Unfortunately, there’s no Puccini this season, additional 12 inches of hair she sports. (In fact, but up next from Nov. 2 to 10 is Rossini’s Cin I was afraid it would get caught in the ceiling fan.) derella, starring Portland’s own Angela Niederloh Helping in the kitchen were Dale and Edie (in bold print in thanks for her dedication and tire Cochran, who are in honorary hold print for their less work at Our House of Portland). decades of support to the drag community. A few nights later, thanks to marketing wizard Casey Ipoch, who has spent the past 22 years (and Just Out writer) Timothy Krause, my best entertaining in a dress, first as Mona Samore and friend, Brian “BoBo” Wilson, accompanied me now as Monica Boulevard, played the part of to Mariela in the Desert at Miracle Theatre, which featured a stunning set by Mark Haack and a stel Maximus Testosterus, while Karl Rohde played lar performance by Kurt Conroyd. And speaking Harangus Adnauseum, which seems appropriate for a former Lake Oswego city councilor. Also there of stellar performances, be sure to catch Cabaret at Portland Center Stage starring Wade McCollum was another honorary queer, “The Lovely” Suzanne Hale, owner of the late-night Roxy. At and Storm Large, who was recently outed as bisexual by Willamette Week's Byron Beck. one point, Suzanne, who told me she “could he mistaken for a trans-vestal virgin,” leaned over to Extended until Nov. 4, Cabaret also features the kiss me and said: “Don’t get makeup on me. I have hottest chorus boys I’ve ever seen on a Portland to wear this again tomorrow night.” stage, including steamy Scott Sachs, who plays soccer with a gay league on New York’s Chelsea While I didn’t have to wear a toga again, I did Piers. find myself dressing up the next night for the With his body, one can only guess who else hot premiere of Carmen. Besides being Portland Opera’s tie Scottie plays with on the piers. But I’d never season opener and its first Friday night performance fault a guy for being Out Going. © ever (to accommodate the popular inclusion of Sunday matinees), this was also Laura Hassell’s debut as director of production. 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