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Polly says farewell in style

Mon 11 Sep 2006 In: Performance

Pollyfilla Wellington's iconic drag diva Pollyfilla saved her final show for her local devotees, who turned out in force on Saturday night, 2nd September, to celebrate her ten-year stint as the city's resident queen. “Pollypalooza” showcased an extensive line-up of local drag royalty at the backalley club, Subnine, just a stone's throw from her old haunt, Escape – where Pollyfilla first performed ten years ago. On September 17, Pollyfilla is off to Melbourne, with a one-way ticket, and the anticipation is building. Before her swansong, “when I was at home putting my makeup on I thought to myself, ‘the next time I do this, I'll be in Australia.' It was quite surreal.” From the ridiculous to the sublime, Pollypalooza featured drag medleys, Kath and Kim, and a very tactile DeeZarStar, all before a rather bemused and presumably straight staff, who it seemed, had never seen anything like it before. The performers on the night included Wellington stars Mia Slapper, Dawn Breaker, Amanda La Whore, Sasha Frieze, Arabia, Natasha Crowe, PussyGirl, Cathie Sheat, Victoria, LaToya JackSin, Lady Trenyce. “And of course my three Dazzling Fillettes, Chelley, Karen and Katty,” says Polyfilla, proudly. “The main highlight of the night was performing one last time with all my Wellington sisters and saying goodbye to friends and fans,” says Pollyfilla. “My favourite show would have to have been the ABBA medley with six queens!” “Followed closely behind by getting to perform Kath and Kim with Mia Slapper one last time. It's an old favourite but it's been a long time since we performed it for our home crowd!” DJ Karl Moser kept the dance floor full, while lithe young gay men, dressed in theme as porn stars, took to the stage in nothing more than skimpy shorts, two sizes too small. DeeZarStar kept the crowd involved late into the morning, giving out UV gloves and encouraging the audience to ‘Put Your Hands On Me' during a very tactile and interactive show. It all got a bit much for one young barman, who faced DeeZarStar's wrath backstage after demanding, mid-show, that she refrain from performing on the tables – a health and safety issue, apparently. It was a memorable night, both for the revellers and for Polly. She was “floored” by two memorable big screen tributes, ‘P: The True Pollywood Story' and well wishes from Auckland drag queens and other glitterati, including Georgina Beyer. “My last number was ‘You Won't Forget About Me' by Danni Minogue, which I did in a huge pink ball gown on stilts, walking around the crowd and hugging people to say thank you for coming to my party.” Polyfilla is now in full swing packing up her extensive wardrobe, and selling or distributing the excess. “There's so much to do before I leave… I'm not so much nervous or excited, as ‘God I have a lot of stuff to do!' I think I'll be excited when I'm all packed and about to board the plane, and nervous when I set foot on Melbourne soil, knowing that it was a one-way trip!” “It's funny, but as an end note I have two quotes that I've carried with me as my work ethic I guess you could say. One was my high school motto in Latin, ‘Nihil Sine Labore' or ‘Nothing Without Work, and the other is from my favourite movie of all time, ‘Auntie Mame'.” “LIVE! Life is a banquet and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death.” David Parrish - 11th September 2006    

Credit: David Parrish

First published: Monday, 11th September 2006 - 12:00pm

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