Displaying items by tag: Gus Lanza

[Reviewer’s Note: I’ve been reading a book whose main character is inveigled by Word of the Day; hence, I’ve striven to include as many unconventional and indecipherable words as possible. You’re welcome.]

This is the seventh year of the JINKX AND DELA HOLIDAY SHOW, composed each year by BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon as a new, original production. DeLa is also the Director, Producer, Costume Designer (and most likely a whole bunch of other stuff) and she does it all in 4-inch heels!  Move over, Ginger Rogers.

Rivalling DeLa for multifaceted, multidisciplinary, multipurpose, and otherwise multiscious effectuality is Gus Lanza, who is backstage manager and merchandise mover-and-shaker, as well as moving and shaking onstage as Hunky the Elf. Last night poor Hunky had a bad cold and sneezed on everyone, but that never vilipended or misprized his sprightly performance. Working with him was a whole stockingful of elves: Chloe Albin, Mr. Babygirl, Jace Gonzalez, Ruby Mimosa, Derrick Paris, and Scott Spraags. The costumes were fabulous; no surprise, as they were designed by BenDeLaCreme, Mr. Gorgeous, and Nova Dobrev; assisting in their creation were Paris Original, Jamie Von Stratton and The Lady Hyde.

The first act was enlivened by a rousing rodeo around Beyonce’s “Texas Hold’em”, and the wonderful song “Secular” – a parody of Wicked’s “Popular” – expressing disgruntlement at all the religiosity circumfusing what should be just a party!

Each year the overall theme of the JINKX AND DELA HOLIDAY SHOW is that Jinkx and DeLa are coming together to put on a holiday show (logical, n’est ce pas?). And every year, that simple premise is blunged with some beloved holiday classic. This year the classic was Nutcracker, and the story developed from Jinkx finding a nutcracker in her Holiday Box to dancing and singing (and ….!) with the Nutcracker himself, whose outsize head (created by Erik Andor) had wonderful googly eyes. His other parts were wood which, as Jinkx found out, never goes soft! though splinters are a hazard.

Jinkx and DeLa shrink (a little bit of Alice in Wonderland thrown in there) and become tree ornaments until they fall off the tree and their clothes fall away, leaving them naked (no problem, they both have terrific tits!). This evolves into Jinkx being kidnapped by the Nutcracker, and for the remainder of the show they go through all sorts of contortions, trying to reunite.

Hunky the Elf always provided a marvelous interpolation, and Country Dancing Santa was a super supplement (even though his batteries kept wearing down), all of them eager to sing and dance with Jinkx and DeLa. I was particularly fond of Clayby (Clay Baby) Jesus.

The final song in the JINKX AND DELA HOLIDAY SHOW is traditionally an anti-holiday anthem, and this year was no exception: Everybody’s Traumatized by Christmas struck home with virtually every gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, and otherwise queer in the audience (and quite possibly in the cast as well!).

The bad news is that the JINKX AND DELA HOLIDAY SHOW comes but once a year to Chicago (and more than 30 other cities!). But forewarned is forearmed. Now you know to watch for its reappearance on the Auditorium Theatre’s playlist next December … assuming, of course, the incoming administration doesn’t put an embargo on Drag Queen Festivities. They’d probably be wise to do so, as the show would be quite effective in waylaying innocent little boys with the joys of rhinestones even before their school operates on them.

Created & Written by BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon

Director BenDeLaCreme

Choreographer Chloe Albin

Movement Direction BenDeLaCreme

Original Compositions Major Scales

Lyrics BenDeLaCreme, Jinkx Monsoon, & Major Scales

Music Production Markaholic & Keith Harrison

Starring BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon

with Chloe Albin, Mr. Babygirl, Jace Gonzalez, Ruby Mimosa, Derrick Paris, Scott Spraags, and Gus Lanza as “Hunky the Elf”