Always expect the unexpected at the annual Ice Palace Turnabout Show, which took place on August 10. Ariel Sinclair and Logan Hardcore tended bar, Porsche (Brant) became DJ Not Chuck, Lavinia Draper hosted as butch leatherman Titanium Tenny, and bar staff usually not found in drag gave us a full evening of drag numbers, ranging in quality from professional to promising to don’t give up your day job. All performers’ tips benefited the Long Island organization Thursday’s Child, which assists people living with AIDS/HIV, and the total raised was $510.
Tenny kicked off the evening singing and querying, “Can anybody find me somebody to love?” “Sophisticated beauty” Ivanka Naylya (entertainment coordinator Ken Braun) declared, “Baby, we can do it!” Donna Dyawana’s (bartender Robby Ranger) campy number was “Sweet Dreams.” Joey Jersey (bartender Rachel Valentine) and Boy Named Sue (cocktail server Sue Panzer) joined forces for a rousing “Dancing in the Street.” Wilma Dickfit (Pete Cono), as Rosie the Riveter, gave us “Boots and Boys.” Bubbles Atlantic (Tommy Wolf) worked the dominatrix look for “Hanky Panky.” Then Ivanka, Donna, Bubbles, Wilma, and a quartet of audience ‘volunteers’ participated in a “Sissy that Walk” contest, coordinated by Tenny.
Tenny opened the second half of the show singing, “Let’s hear it for the boy.” Lady Charles (beloved DJ Chuck McTague) showed us “The Best Thing about Being a Woman.” Ivanka Cox (bartender Mark Silver) offered a scene from “Sex and the City” and a song. Elegant Sharon Cox (bar staff member Peter Chmiel) took us by surprise by singing, “What do I do to make you love me?”And Chloe Diamond (cocktail server Corey Palmer) made a debut with “This Is.” Kudos to all participants in the Turnabout Show!