The fifth Queen of the Whole Universe pageant in Auckland crowned Miss Transylvania ahead of some stiff competition, raised $45,000 for HIV organisations and set a new world drag performance record. Miss Transylvania Producer and co-compere Jonathan Smith, performing as Bimbo of Buffy and Bimbo fame, announced to a capacity audience of over 2,000 in the Aotea Centre that the simultaneous appearance of 36 fully fledged drag performers had beaten the record of 24 set in New York in 2005. Following the established QWU format of massed drag production numbers, followed by a pre-arranged winnowing down of contestants and the scripted withdrawal of some contestants due to various unfortunate circumstances, a final six genuine contestants presented their performances before the audience and a judging panel headed by TV presenter Alison Mau and including broadcaster Maggie Barry and Auckland drag mother Miss K. After appearing in elaborate headgear and risque swimsuit sections, and answering "probing" questions, the six presented elaborate and show-stopping production numbers. Miss England, portrayed by Ed Jenner, managed to include Queen Elizabeth the First, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn and the spirit of the Blitz, Lady Godiva, Britannia and even a tribute to Freddy Mercury. Miss Italy (Vic de Bettencor) rose above humble televised beginnings in rural olive groves by driving her Vespa to La Scala where she hammered La Traviata complete with a chorus of operatic dancers and eventually out-bustiered Madonna. Miss Canada (Glen Molloy) presented a tribute to her country's scenic splendours complete with a tribe of athletic indians and a love-sick mountie. Miss Australia (Owen Anderson) bought Luna Park to Auckland and populated her patriotic show with a salute to the Australian military, dancers emulating as kangaroos and emus, prawns on the barbie and Waltzing Matilda. Miss Japan (Andrae Fassler) began with a Japanese language version of Phanton of the Opera, paid homage to the victims of Hiroshima and finally danced her way through a comical showstopper in school-girl inspired sexy attire under a giant Hello Kitty image. But it was Miss Transylvania, portrayed by Steve Lawrence, who scored highest with the judges, appearing out of a coffin into a misty graveyard populated by ghouls and the undead to Michael Jackson's Thriller before segueing into a spectacular stint as Frank 'N' Furter, the Rocky Horrow Show's iconic sweet transvestite. It was announced from the stage tonight that there will be no Queen of the Whole Universe show in Auckland next year due to venue booking complications, instead the show will be presented mid-year in Wellington. HIV organisations including the NZ AIDS Foundation, Body Positive Auckland and Positive Women will share the proceeds from this tonight's pageant. Photos of the performances, by a variety of photographers, will appear on GayNZ.com tomorrow and in the coming days.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 16th November 2008 - 1:52am