The Ice Palace’s annual Turnabout Show, in which staff members who don’t ordinarily do drag strut their stuff in good drag or bad drag, but always in fun, took place on July 28 and all performers’ tips, reportedly amounting to $762, went to the Cherry Grove Dunes Fund, which kept our oceanfront safe during Super Storm Sandy last fall. DJ Brant, often known as Porsche, was responsible for music, sound, and lights, and hot Leather number Titanium Tenny, who bore a certain resemblance to Lavinia Draper, was the host.
Tenny kicked off the show singing “We Are the Champions.” Ivanna Nalya, who might otherwise manage the Ice Palace, and Rosetta Stone, who must be related to DJ RDK, collaborated on the Lady Gaga-Beyoncé “Telephone Song,” with a ségué into “Happy Talk,” from “South Pacific.” Pancho and Aneeda Corona, members of the Grove Hotel housekeeping staff, provided interludes of slugging back Coronas—what else?—to the tune of the “Mexican Hat Dance.” Lady Charles, sister to DJ Chuck, worked the room, collecting cash for the Dunes Fund, while advising us about “The Best Thing about Being a Woman” and returning later for “Movin’ On Up.”
Bubbles Atlantic, looking something like Tommy, blended “Hush, Hush” with a bit of “I Will Survive” and did a hectic duet of “It’s Raining/Enough Is Enough” with Ivanna Nalya. Amanda Playwith was on hand for “Ooh La La” and “You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.” Donna Dayawanna, Robbie Ranger’s twin sibling, invited us down to “Funky Town.” Macho duo Hilarity Express, who might have been Sue and Angela in another dimension, declared, “I’m Sexy and I Know It!”
Rosetta Stone, channeling “vamp” Grace Jones, as body-painted by Keith Haring, gave us an elaborately arty “La Vie en Rose,” the backdrop becoming a cape and then a train, as red roses were dispensed to the audience. A classy Yetta Yenta, a close personal relation of cocktail waiter Todd, ordered “Get out and stay out,” asserting, “I’m taking back my life.”
Ms. Couture gave us an Yma Sumac selection. Miss Erotica, all perpetual motion, exhorted, “Don’t touch my hair, oh/or my chinchilla coat.” Emperor Wen-D Bouvier Pinkhouse got physical with Zoe Manner, urging, “Be My Little Rock ’n’ Roll Queen.” And Titanium Tenny brought the full company back on stage to join in “Find Me Somebody to Love.”