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Like a wilder and more realistic version of the nightclub scenes in The Birdcage—and with a queen always at arm’s reach no matter where you went in the club—the House of Condeghi hosted their Turnabout Ball at The Pub, to celebrate the venue’s first anniversary. The ball, which was hosted by local drag performer Sharde Ross, went from 9:00 p.m. to midnight and featured many of The Pub’s staff in the competition. The tips were donated to The Smart Ride.
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The Pub hosted their monthly “leather and kink party,” Menergy Leather, last Friday, featuring a demonstration from adult performers and couple, Dirk Caber and Jesse Jackman.
4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”
BY JESUS PUENTE
The Radicalization of Rolfe, which is playing at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors, is a play about “Rolfe” from the musical, The Sound of Music. Before the play began, bright lights illuminated the stage, which helped bring the illustrated backdrop of green pastures, blue skies, and the iconic hills alive with impressions of The Sound of Music. In contrast, posters of Nazi propaganda and paintings of European architecture reminded the audience what time period they had just stepped back into.
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We last remember Rolfe delivering telegraphs, and as the “17-going-on-18” love-interest of the Von Trapp daughter, Liesl Von Trapp. Rolfe’s scenes in the movie were few, but many will remember the number where he insisted that Liesl needed a man such as himself to care for her. We also remember him in the final scene of The Sound of Music, where he gives away the family’s position as they’re attempting to escape from the grasps of Nazis. So what contributed to this promising young man’s downward spiral, to the point where he would ultimately betray the Von Trapps?
In The Radicalization of Rolfe, we’re provided that piece of the missing puzzle that made us all ponder, “why?” In the secret life of this telegraph delivery-boy, the audience is given more insight of his influence by the local Nazi leader, Herr Zeller, devilishly brought to life by Michael Kehr. In the play, Rolfe—meticulously portrayed by Jordon Armstrong—struggles with his passion to sing and his desire to compete in a local folk competition, with the hopes of someday getting on the radio. However, his biggest conundrum is his romantic involvement with the lovable and ever-optimistic Johan, the nephew of the Von Trapp family’s sharp-witted housekeeper.
Set in roughly four settings, The Radicalization of Rolfe delves into the dark reality of Austria during the Third Reich. The play was a somber, thought-provoking drama of taboo love, reminiscent of Brokeback Mountain. The main character struggles to accept his own self-identity, hoping that he can quit his “deviant” urges. I also thoroughly enjoyed the minor comedic relief, with references both to and from The Sound of Music. The references actually compel the viewer to revisit the film once the play has ended—which I did.
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However, I was a bit disappointed that a play springing from one of the most popular musicals of all time only featured a brief ten-second snippet of Rolfe’s hidden “singing” talent. Yet, I had to remember that The Radicalization of Rolfe was not purported as a musical; it’s framed to tell the truth of one of the film’s forgotten and misled characters.
Much like the musical, the play was centered around one of history’s darkest times, and it also managed to incorporate the history of gays during the holocaust. The play was a bittersweet piece, which reminded me of the still-present deathly consequences that gays continue to experience in many parts of the world. The Radicalization of Rolfe tells an important story of a “forbidden” love. A love that, unfortunately, has people in some countries still running for “the hills” today.
The Radicalization of Rolfe runs through April 29th at Island City Stage, with performances at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Island City Stage is located at 2304 N. Dixie Hwy., in Wilton Manors, Florida.
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Bearsurrection Fort Lauderdale, according to the organization’s website, aims to “provide comradery within the bear community” and to establish a world-class annual bear event. The hallmark of their week-long event was the second-annual Bearsurrection Fashion Show, which played to a packed house at Hunters on Wednesday. With categories in club-wear, swimwear and business casual, the show featured designs from the popular Nasty Pig line and from local artist/designer Chris Lopez.
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Everything’s that old is new again, when Miami-based 1980s pop trio, Company B, performed on St. Patrick’s Day at The Pub. Featuring an interactive set that was composed of both cover and original songs, the trio performed such numbers as Full Circle, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and rousing take on Ike and Tina’s version of Proud Mary, before finishing off the 45-minute set with their 1987 hit single, Fascinated.
Where did you grow up? In Akron, Ohio. How long have you lived in South Florida? Since 1978. Why did you move here? Well, it snows in Ohio, and I love palm trees much better than snow. And I was young. Me and my girlfriend-at-the-time were on our way to California. She eventually went on to California, and I just stayed. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Davie. What do you like most about living here? I like the ocean and the palm trees. I just like it—I don’t know. What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? Backstreet. Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why? I mostly stay at home with the puppies and my girlfriend. But when I do go out, I go to a straight bar. I want to go where no one knows my name and I can just be a fly on the wall. What’s your claim–to–fame? I’m the longest-running female bartender in the gay bars in Broward County. That, and my cocktails—people tell me about them all the time. They like to drink them because they don’t taste like pure alcohol. What’s the first place that you worked at in South Florida? Backstreet, in 1982.
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What’s the best place that you worked at in South Florida? Once again, Backstreet. It was in the space where Revolution is now. It took up the whole block; it was a big venue. It had a pool in the back, too. The early eighties was a very magical time to grow up and be gay. Particularly, in that club. At first, I did everything there—bar backing, taking care of the entertainment, etc. They eventually made me a bartender, but they put me on the second floor, in the back, figuring that I would quit. But I ended up making more than the boys, so they moved me to the first floor. Me and my girlfriend were the only female bartenders there. I never made so much money in all my life. What’s the biggest tip that you ever got? Nine hundred dollars. I only made one drink for this guy, and then he walked away. He left nine $100 bills under the ashtray. I tried to find him, in case he left the money by accident, but he was gone. What do you think about the gay bars today? Bars are getting more integrated, and young gays don’t give a fuck if you’re gay or not. I can’t imagine that young bartenders have a following, because people don’t go out like they used to. But I’m lucky because I’ve been here a long time, so I have a following.
What’s your best celebrity encounter? Andy Warhol. I was at the bar-area in Backstreet, and all these queens were like, “Who’s that ugly guy?” None of them knew who he was, if you can believe that. I had Warhol sign a napkin, and he drew a heart. I still have it. What celebrity are you closest with? Grace Jones. I used to hang around with her all the time. She’s fucking wild. I haven’t seen her for a while, though. Who’s your best industry friend? “Pooch.” I’ve known him for years. He’s a great guy. He used to work at Scandals, but I’m not sure if he’s there anymore. How would you like to be remembered? I really don’t know. I’ll leave that up to the public. I’ve introduced people who are still together years later, and I run into so many who tell me that I made their first drink when they just turned 21, or when they just moved into town. I feel like I’ve grown up with everyone here. Will you ever retire? Probably not. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Probably Facebook. What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why? The keys, but not Key West. It’s not artsy there anymore, and it has too many cruise ships. And working at The Copa for all those years in Key West kind-of ruined it for me. What’s your favorite band? The Pretenders. And on a side note, Chrissie Hynde grew up in Dayton, too, and my aunt—who had a beauty salon—did her mother’s hair.
What are you superstitious about? Black cats. Do you believe in aliens? Yes. And I think I’ve met a few of them. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To save more money. What did you learn from your parents? Not much. I didn’t really have a childhood, because I had to bring up my brothers and sisters since I was 10 years old. What’s your best characteristic? I’m a good listener (laughs). How do you enjoy spending your time? Me and my girlfriend [of 28 years] go to Key Largo every-other weekend. That’s my getaway. What celebrity do you have a crush on? I used to love Suzanne Pleshette. Where would you go in a time machine, and why? Back to the early 80s. That was the best. But it was bittersweet, because the late 80s and early 90s were a very sad time because of AIDS—it was horrible. I mean, I would be serving someone, knowing that it would be their last drink. I was losing friends and customers left and right, and every time you opened up David Magazine, you saw another friend’s obituary. After a while, I got numb to it. I just couldn’t go to anymore funerals. And at that age, I had gone to more funerals than my parents ever did.
What would your last meal be? Probably Jets Pizza. The pizza is amazing—I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like it. What do you worry about? Money, money, money. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why? Probably a trumpet, so people would listen to me (laughs). Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? Most of the time, I’m a lamb. But it depends on the day, because sometimes I have to be a wolf. I’m a woman in a man’s world, so I always have—and had—to be better than the boys and the beautiful men just to stay alive. Who depends on you? My puppies… and my girlfriend. Who are you closest with? Tommy, my cook. What would your autobiography be called? Behind Bars. What music do you listen to when you’re upset? I don’t listen to that much music. I listen to talk radio and sports radio to unwind. What’s your greatest regret in life? That I didn’t save more money. I made millions, but we all did back then. You always thought, “Oh, why bother saving? I’m gonna make another $1,000 tonight.” If we only knew… Where can we see you? At Beefcake’s on Wednesday and Thursday, from 3:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., and on Friday and Saturday, from 6:00 p.m. to close.
