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Wendy and Melanie - Queen of the Whole Universe [AI Text]

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I got involved. I've done six, so I think counting two years where there were two. So probably about four or five years ago. Um, a friend of mine, Jackie got me involved. And she wanted me to do it the year before, but then said I was a bit nervous. I said, Oh, no, no. And then the next year she said, I'll just come and meet everybody And as soon as I'd met everybody, that was it. I was Yeah. And so I went and did that. And every rehearsal, I'd come home and just have had so much fun, and and Wendy would hear about all that. And then, um after the first [00:00:30] show, Jonathan and Kevin met her and they they like, they said to me, Oh, you know, why don't you come and be in the show? And I said, Well, I'd love to, but I knew if I could be a boy and that hadn't happened at that point. So there were lots of boys being girls, but no girls being boys. And so I think that they got a bit of a shock by that, and I think that they sort of must have thought about it for a while and got their head around it and thought, actually, why not? But even that night, they were kind of like, Oh, we haven't heard that before. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then the thing about it is nobody really talks about their sexuality or their orientation, You [00:01:00] know, anywhere throughout the, you know, the whole performance or throughout the lead up to it or anything. So and nobody asked the question because it really doesn't matter. We're all there for the same reason. So it's a really nice environment like that. I enjoy it. Yeah. So me can you take me back to the first time that you went to see to see everyone? Why were you apprehensive? I think it just sounded like a really big show. And I was just a bit nervous of whether I could do it or and, um, being a girl, like doing the whole drag [00:01:30] queen thing, I was like, Oh, I don't know, But, um yeah, and I hadn't seen the show either before I was in it, so yeah, I think it was the third one that I got involved in. And then I went to the meeting, and everyone was just so lovely and Jonathan talking about what they were going to do in the show. And it just sounded so exciting. And yeah, it was it really Had you done any performance before? Yeah, a little bit. I do the occasional Dolly Parton impersonation. Yeah. Yeah, and I've done a few shows with other people and some hero shows and things [00:02:00] like that, so Yeah, but it had been a while before I'd done since I've done a really big one. So yeah, and so that first time, what was it like? It was fantastic. But yeah, I'll never forget that. That when you're waiting before the curtain goes up, your knees almost go weak that first time. It's so exciting, and the audience just goes nuts when they see everybody. So can you describe what it's like when that curtain goes up? Oh, it's your heart beating and it just takes your breath away. Really? Because [00:02:30] you're ready for the curtain to go up. But you're not ready for the screaming and the applause and everything that comes before you've even done anything. It's just amazing. It's a real rush. It's a real rush. Yeah, and so you obviously got the bug after the after the first performance. And once you've made friends with everybody, you sort of just want to go back every year. And, yeah, it's almost like a reunion every year because you do it. I don't know. It's about three or four months of sort of seeing each other reasonably regularly, and then you don't see each other till the next year. So there's [00:03:00] sort of that eight months in between where I mean, you see each other occasionally, but it's not. You don't see everybody. So so is there a kind of like a come down period after the performance where it's kind of a bit empty? Yes, absolutely, Absolutely. Because it's so full on leading up to the actual performance, and then after it, there's nothing. And then you just sort of think, Oh, you know there's something missing in your life for a while and then you just sort of ease back into your normal routine. But then look forward to the next one. Think about what head gear you're gonna make. [00:03:30] Yeah, well, can we go through the process of, um, like, how far out before the performance. Do you start rehearsing and and take me through what that actually involves? Well, there there's usually quite a few meetings before we actually start the full on rehearsal, which is probably about three months out the full on rehearsal. So we meet up sort of periodically. Maybe it is the three months that we start meeting up. Yeah, and then it's just sort of, I don't know, maybe six weeks, six weeks of two rehearsals a week. So it sort of Yeah, quite intensive. [00:04:00] Once you start Wednesday and Sunday night, and then you've also got you know, if you're part of one of the Act two, then you've got to, um, sort of commit to those as well, so it can be anywhere up to sort of four rehearsals a week for some of them go for a couple of hours at a time. And but you just sort of figure Well, look, you know, it's only sort of 6 to 8 weeks out of my life and and it's such good fun. Yeah, it's it's fine. It's actually a really cool commitment. So how do they make it such good fun? Oh, it's just just the people. [00:04:30] That isn't it. Yeah. I think you get a whole lot of queens in the room at the same time. It's always gonna be a lot of boys. And that first, my favourite was learning how to walk When it was before Wendy came and they got a guy in who teaches models and he was gay. He was fantastic. He did the girls walk, and then he taught, was teaching the boys how to do the boys walk, but seeing some of the girls trying to walk in the heels for the first time and just Yeah, this is fantastic. I haven't loved that [00:05:00] much in ages. That's why we do. You think she could never be a girl because she can't walk in the heels. I all the boys think she should be a girl in just one time. Yes, I have the utmost respect for them, you know, But I just I don't think I could do it. I really don't. Sure you could. I couldn't get my head around it. So are they wearing heels and rehearsals? Some really diggy outfits. Sometimes they're hilarious. I've got these beautiful shoes on, and they're probably wearing, you know, paint covered shorts and T shirt. He's a painter, He comes in his little paint shorts and cute. [00:05:30] So what else happens at rehearsals? How how did they work? But Jonathan's got a clear plan every time he comes in on what we need to get through. So I mean, he's He's very good at making sure that we sort of, you know, meet our commitments every time we turn up, but it's usually we get there. We have a bit of a gathering. We say Good day. Then he says, OK, and then that's it. Everyone's on. Um, until he basically says No, that's That's the end of the rehearsal and we'll see you next time. We have a cup of tea and biscuits in the middle. Everyone tries to avoid so they [00:06:00] can fit their outfit. But end up having them anyway. Yeah, hanging out for the cigarette and a cup of tea. So what's how would you describe Jonathan's directing style? I think that he's kind of a fan, but fear director, I think he's great. He knows that there's a job that needs to be done, but he he's fine for people to have fun while doing it as well. As long as it doesn't get out of control. He's he's great, but he's most of the entertainment himself. He's the one that gets us laughing most of the time, [00:06:30] and then he goes, OK, shut up, OK, and what's it like? Because it's a very inclusive, uh, cast. You've got all types of ability. What's that like in terms of rehearsing when people are. Obviously some people are going to be better at things than others. I think it's pretty good. No one really kind of gives anyone a hard time if it takes them longer to get steps or whatever, and everyone sort of helps each other. Yeah, yeah, because there are. There's always some sort of [00:07:00] pretty professional dancers, but you might only have two of those. So everyone just says if you go out the front and, you know from behind. So yeah, I think everyone just helps each other out. Really. Nobody comes down and anyone ask, and that's why we keep going back because it's just such a lovely environment. It's just bit, and there has been in all the years I have done it, which is quite amazing. I think maybe it's something to do with, like, attracts. Like, you know, you sort of come along to an environment. You see whether or not it's a good fit for you. Um, and [00:07:30] you know, all the people that that sort of go are just great get along. And I don't think it would be tolerated either. If someone was mean to someone, I think everyone would be like, You know, that's not cool. So when when did when did you start with the I started a year after Mel, because she'd always come home on a high, even if she sort of left. And she was a bit tired, you know, haven't been at work and that kind of thing. She'd come back and always be on a high and would always have little, you know, anecdotes to tell me about what had happened that night, which is great. And I just thought it was sounded absolutely [00:08:00] hilarious and kind of thought. Well, I've got to go and see for myself. And so I ended up there the year after as a boy. And what is the difference between being a boy and being a girl on stage. What comfort? Absolutely. I'm actually going to be a boy this year because it's the final year. And I love taking photographs during the show and, um, getting into your girl costume and the whole head thing and getting the makeup done. [00:08:30] It just takes so long and you see everyone else around. I keep thinking, Oh, I want to take a photo of that or that and you know, So I just thought this year I want to do drag, drag and be a boy. Yeah, the difference is really in that, Um, when you get on stage as a girl, you have to you're on there to perform because you're competing, you know, to be Miss Universe. And with the boys, we're almost like accessories. I suppose we we sort of, um, not in a bad way. We we help all the girls on stage, and when they do the catwalk of nations, we help them guide, we help take them on stage and [00:09:00] with any of their costume, um, dramas. We have to sort of be there and make sure that everything goes smoothly. So there is a bit of responsibility there, but, um In recent years, Jonathan has been getting the boys to open the show, which has been really nice. So it just means that there's more of an impact when the, you know, like Mel said, with the curtain rising when it rises, it's It's just an amazing impact, visually from the crowd. So it's been working really well, and it's been fun for us, too, to be more involved. So and I guess, assisting the girls. I mean, when you think of some of the head gear, [00:09:30] which is some of it's huge, Absolutely, absolutely. So I mean, we've had mishaps on stage. I mean, they just can't be avoided. You just don't know what's going to happen on the night, so you just sort of got to roll with it. But, yeah, there have been a couple of incidents where headgear might have fallen off. Or maybe someone's forgotten to take something out or yeah, maybe they haven't strapped it on properly. So yeah, so that's what we're there for. It's amazing what people make, though, because no one really knows how to do it. You know, you get in the show and then you've got to sort of make [00:10:00] something for your head, and I certainly didn't know how to do it. And some have worked better than others. I find if you strap it to your back, it's better I had I did Scotland last year and made this sis thing, and it was heavy and my neck was sort of like the sacrifices you have to. Some people are so clever. They're just so clever. Some of the things they came up with and I've never done it before. It's just amazing, but we can't believe it. Oh, yeah, I've never done this before, but they've made things a little, um, propellers on and stuff like moving lights. [00:10:30] Or just so what are some of the stand out bits of head gear? Oh, the one that it was Easter Island. And it looked like a big, um, Easter egg. It was looked like an Easter, but inside was a light and and the way that he made the the frame of it, it just the light. When it came through, it was just amazing, but so huge. It must have been like two metres wide by about a metre high. And so yeah, just making the frame for that and making sure the light worked and [00:11:00] just logistics of getting it all together and getting it out there on stage. It just blew my mind. I thought, that's really clever, really clever actually getting that out on stage, I mean, even back. How does how is that handled? It's a nightmare because people come off and then sometimes they have to turn and go at a certain angle and other people are trying to. It's all. And then there's all the rigging that you have to watch out for, and everyone else is lining up to try and get on stage stage managers. You know, you have to do that [00:11:30] quietly on the stage people. And And what about costumes? Any favourite costumes? So you've got so many. I've got so many least favourite costumes. For some reason, the boys always wear less and less less is you know the way to go with Jonathan. And, you know, one year we wore sort of a shredded top, and I called it a loin cloth. There wasn't much left to the imagination, so every year I just sort of freak out about what our costumes are going to be. But [00:12:00] then I feel happy about the fact that I don't have to up with my own. So it's kind of a bit of the Wellington outfit because usually it happens sort of leading into summer in Auckland. And so everyone sort of is on the bit of the queen of whole universe diet. And then we did Wellington the first time. It was mid winter, of course. So we'd all been eating and outfits were like, Oh, and every time we go to eat something, I'd say loin cloth to we she'd be like, Damn! Still, when we got there, everyone said to Jonathan Oh, my outfits shrunk. I can't [00:12:30] wear that. So is there a special queen of the whole universe diet? No, they're all personal, but we all talk about it. Kind of like, you know, we know that the show is coming up and everyone wants to look their best. So, you know, everyone always talks about the salad. That's mine. Yeah. Having to cut down. Yeah. Yeah, Well, when you're a girl, it's amazing the things you can buy to pull you in and, you know, Yeah, I'm a bit worried about the boy. I'll definitely have to be on a diet. [00:13:00] And so are you making your own costumes and headgear? Um, for girls, you make your own head gear and costumes. Yeah. You either get sponsorship for people to buy them, or I've usually found them in op shops. So maybe, um, sort of adjusted them, or I've hired a couple, but that was more at the beginning. So now I have all these dresses. I don't know what i'll ever do with, but yeah, but some of them are amazing. Some, they must have been thousands on them. And, like, [00:13:30] um oh, yeah, Colin, Colin and, yeah, there's two that are a couple and they get I think they get sponsorship from a shop over the shore that does obviously ball gowns and sort of wedding stuff. And that and they incredible beaded things. Every year. It's like, Oh, it just gets better and better. And they look gorgeous. Yeah. So do you think the bar has been raised? Every performance in terms of you know, what's been shown and how I think I think so. Oh, definitely. But with each show sort of become, you know, you get more [00:14:00] experience each show you do. So I think that people sort of always on the lookout, whether they're doing the show or not. So, you know, you always sort of, um, what's the word I'm looking for scoping for new gear to wear. So, yeah, I think that's why the standard might have been raised. And there's always someone whose outfit is bigger and brighter than your own. So next year you think I want to get more glitter or bigger hair or a competition, you know? Do you actually get to see the show? Sometimes if you're not taking part in the second half, [00:14:30] then you can go right up the back and watch, and that's really cool. But they've filmed it, um, a couple of times. So that's when we get to see it, Um, and it's quite unusual seeing it from the audience perspective. You know, obviously, if you're on stage, you don't get to see that, But so it's really cool when they always have sort of a main screening. After the fact everyone gets together, which is another excuse to get together, which is another look forward to, which is great, Um, and we use big screen, too. Yeah, yeah, and it's It's great all the [00:15:00] comments that come out and people screaming and carrying heckling. It's just it's just a lot of fun. So can you describe for me the process of going from the rehearsal stage to the theatre stage? Do your stress levels increase? Is it Is it tense? Is it? Yeah, yeah, I think once you set foot in the like, for example, the a T Centre. Um, you know that it's show time because it's such a It's a huge space. And when you're standing on stage [00:15:30] and looking out, all you see is seats and many levels of them, and you think, Oh my gosh, they're going to be packed The night that we perform got to put your best foot forward. But also Jonathan lifts the intensity. He makes sure that you're aware that hey, it's 33 days to game day, two days to game day or right it Showtime. And I want you to have a lot of fun, but I also want you to put your best foot forward. So a nice combination. Everyone's going to be putting their best foot forward anyway. Um, but Yeah, it is all about having a bit of fun and remembering [00:16:00] why we're there, that kind of thing. And there's usually 2 to 3 late nights on the So you might maybe Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So if you work normal full time, I mean, the second year I did it, I took the Friday off because I thought that I just couldn't You're trying to go to work And the next day, after being up till sort of midnight the night before dancing away. So it's sort of like, Yeah, I think a lot of people take that Friday off sometimes. Now, if they can help Too stressful. Yeah, because otherwise, you sort of be really [00:16:30] late thinking, Oh, you know, it's past my bedtime and, yeah, but can you describe for me the the kind of transformation that you go through when you're going through costuming and makeup on on the day when you get there, You. I always tend to go first. I think they like to do the um when they're doing the girl's makeup. They like to do the real woman first, because I think the boys had to have the shave at the last minute and stuff like that. So you go through the makeup thing and then just getting [00:17:00] your costumes on and depending on what your hair is, like, just that sort of thing. But we all end up in the same dressing room, the real woman, Um, so that's good. You can always help each other out. And But I think for the men it would be a whole different ball game with just the, you know, shaving their legs for the first time or that kind of thing. I think it's a lot harder work for them to get themselves Trans, um, put into girl costume. So yeah, and it's different for the boys because it's usually about sort of 10 to 12 of us, and, um, sort [00:17:30] of. In recent years there's been maybe four or five women and amongst the boys, so we just you can't be shy. That just sort of goes out the window, so it's quite funny. You just sort of see everyone walking around in their underwear or a little bit less, and, um, we do help each other out trying to get dressed, and we've just sort of gotten to the point where, um, the girls don't care. The guys don't care. We're all there for the same reason. So, yeah, the binding thing is the girl's mission to be boys. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, You find the right thing to flatten [00:18:00] your chest. And actually, often it's better to get a guy to help you because they get it just right. I don't know. Maybe they've got bigger hands. We're kind of going off on a whole new tangent here, aren't we? And you knew about that? OK, which boy? Michael, right? Yes. Sorry, we will. We? So that's the kind of, um, the kind of physical transformation. What about the the kind of emotional mental transformation? When when does that kind of happen? For [00:18:30] me? It happens as soon as we start getting changed. I guess so, Yeah. Just sort of get your makeup on. Yeah. And you know, once you get your makeup on and once you get your your costumes on you, you look completely different. And so you feel completely different. And then you just sort of think to yourself, OK? What do I need to do tonight? What are the things that I've had trouble with? you know, just sort of mentally preparing yourself in that way, making sure that, you know, you just try and keep one step ahead all the time. So, you know, sometimes people have gotten lost on stage or a whole group of people have gone one way, and they've gone [00:19:00] the other, which is just hilarious. So everyone's got a big smile on their face as they continue doing their performance. So are there, um, big differences that you notice in yourself going from your everyday self to on stage. You know? Does your personality your persona change? Mine does your does. You get cheekier a lot naughtier a lot naughtier. Yeah, it's hard to imagine, but it's all [00:19:30] those boys egg you on as well. I'm definitely one of the boys. I'm in the right place. Then, Yeah, I don't know about mine. I've always said this thing being AAA real woman, so to speak. Um, doing drag. It's different to being a man doing drag the character thing. Yeah, because Jonathan Jonathan often talks about getting into your character and because I am a girl. So being a girl, it's not so far reaching. I think that's why this year. I wanted to, um, be a boy as well. And I feel more [00:20:00] in character when I do that drag that way. So I'll be interested to see that. Yeah, I've seen it before. Do you choose your names, or do they get chosen for you? Yeah. And so your names have been I've had a couple. My first one is a boy. Um, my first one was Dick Van Dyke, and my second one was packed and bound mine now Spain, Um, adorable bull. Because I did, um it was [00:20:30] to do with Dora being Picasso's wife because I did a big Picasso bullhead. Um, what was the Gallipoli was really good. What? Scotland? Do you remember Scotland? You sort of Scotland. I own a lock. Was Scotland. They tend to be naughty, but if the ruder, the better we've learned over the years and everyone else's names it like Oh, I see they've kind of made more of a, um [00:21:00] They put the name up on a screen now so you can read it as well, if you know, because sometimes the pronunciation doesn't quite get across. So when you do get to see it on the big screen. You see, some people sort of quiet for a second, and then they just crack up laughing. Because Miss Samoa last year was, um and, um, the man who had very refined voice, so it sort of sounded a little different, but everyone roared at that. I think all his family were in the front row, [00:21:30] so yeah, that was a good one. It's interesting. Um, you bring up the audience. Uh, I wonder, Can you describe? I mean, is there a typical audience? What? What is the demographic for it? Hm? I think I'm not too sure on the demographic. You don't get to see anything when you're I mean, it's all just lights. So I guess a lot of the community and, um, people's family and friends. Yeah. Yeah, but I mean, as far as sort [00:22:00] of getting a feel for it. I think that because we've had had it in Auckland, sort of for 10 years. I think that there is, you know, sort of people have been coming. Maybe for that long. And other people just sort of think Well, we've been to one show. We don't need to sort of, you know, go to another, which is a shame, because there's, you know, always something new happening. Um, and I just think, you know, if people just sort of came along every year that they'd love it just as much as they did the first time they saw it. But in Wellington, we noticed that it was different. They were louder. The theatre was a lot smaller and everyone was louder. And it [00:22:30] was just amazing. And you could actually see them, which is a bit of a shock, A lot closer. And everyone got dressed up in their own costumes in Wellington, which was really, really cool. Yeah. So what's the best part of the experience? The whole pageant? What? What's the best part for you? So many things. I mean, the rehearsals is always fun, just getting to catch up with everyone. But, I mean, the night itself was always so great. That's the pinnacle for me. Yeah, [00:23:00] the night and that First, when the curtain first goes up, that's the pinnacle for me. And then when it goes down, there's sort of like this huge sense of relief as well as yeah, we pulled it off, and now we can go and socialise with each other. And, yeah, but then it's sort of an anti climax next day because it's like it's all over now. Yeah, well, it is almost all over with. This is the the 10th upcoming show and and the last [00:23:30] one. What? What do you think about that? I don't know. It sort of mixed feelings, really sad, because it's it's ending. Um, and it's been such a cool ride, Um, but also good in that, you know, Jonathan just needs a break, you know? He's he's just a workaholic. He just I don't know where he gets his energy from, but he's just amazing. And he's got so many other opportunities that he needs to focus on as well. And he's sort of been juggling those again. I don't [00:24:00] know how he's done it. So in that sense, yeah, a bit of sort of bittersweet. It's good to go out with a bang. The 10 ones you know, he's done it well, isn't he? Yeah, of course he is. It's Jonathan. Hey, just finally if, uh, you had something to say to all those people out there in the dark on the performance night What would that be? Just enjoy yourself and Yeah, I'd probably say the same. Just just have an absolutely fantastic [00:24:30] night because we're going to It's just the way it is. And thanks for supporting big time.

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AI Text:September 2023
URL:https://www.pridenz.com/ait_qwu_wendy_and_melanie.html