Friday night, I've packed up my things when I get a frantic phone call from the manger of the drag venue:"Whatever the HELL you do don't wear that damn blonde wig tonight! Fredrick Thompson is coming and bringing about half a dozen people!  You know he enjoys seeing'a Rita Hayworth more than a Marilyn Monroe'!" 

Fredrick considers himself a connoisseur of drag. He loves hanging out with us after the show, always brings a crowd and tips us well. He doesn't hit on us so he just feels like a friend. I've been hit on by other guys though. The first time I was approached was after my first performance. I nearly slugged the guy. Thankfully, my drag mentor, Rhoda Dendron was there. He  showed me how to conduct myself in that situation and even got me an apology. 

(Rhoda Dendron)

Rhoda is a special feature tonight and I'm so happy to see him. We high five. His gimmick is he does magic tricks as part of his show .  The first drag act I ever saw. Sometimes you find someone you're instantly pals with and that was how I felt about Rhoda. "As I get older, you'll take over my spotlight." Rhoda predicted with pride once I started to get better at drag.

Now I don't know about that. Those are some big shoes to fill. Minnesota won't forget it's singing drag magician. Okay, just those who care about drag won't. We'll brag that we saw Rhoda Dendron.

 "Oh, Gary! Someone left you flowers!" Rhoda points to my dressing area.

Damn. Another jerk for sure. Probably a nasty sentiment on the card. I read the card: Gary, let's never drink together again. Grace. "Grace! She sent them! Maybe she's here! We got drunk and had an...uh... incident" I tell Rhoda. 

My cue takes me away.Scanning the audience, I wonder aloud,"We've got a full house tonight, is there anyone Virtue knows?" 

Cheers from the crowd. No Grace. Sigh. Guess you can't win them all. 

"Anyone who'd like to know Virtue?" I ask. Referring to myself in third person is fun because people would think I was nuts if I did it in real life.

More cheers.

"Thought so." I point at the manager of the venue, who is in his special seat up front. "But does Virtue want to know this guy? That's debatable."

Laughter. Everyone knows who he is.  

https://youtu.be/YwSZvHqf9qM

I launch into my first number, a cover of Bob Dylan's Tangled Up in Blue. My version has a slightly more upbeat tempo than the original. At first the audience doesn't know what to make of it. This is common, I don't choose drag standards because I like to be different. 

As I run my fingers through my fake scarlet locks and sing Wondrin' if she'd changed at all, If her hair was still red, the crowd comes around. They are mine and I know this. So helpless they are to my to my chanteuse routine.

Fredrick and his friends give me a standing ovation when I finish my set.  They only simmer down for a few seconds before they are cheering the other queens.

The final act, strutting while pushing his wheeled table of props, Rhoda entertains everyone with his version of That Old Black Magic 

https://youtu.be/QCaeE1hwY1w

When the song is done, Rhoda studies his table, looking for something. It's part of the act. He pretends he can't find his deck of cards. The facial expressions are on point. I learned that from him. He "remembers" where his cards are and raises the side of his skirt, where the deck is shoved into a snug thigh high stocking.

Whistles and hollers from the audience.   A fan is chosen for card tricks.  Next some illusions are done. Often while singing. One song he does while making things disappear is Magic Touch by Kiss. I encouraged him to add that too his repartee. He was was hesitant because of the hard rock nature of the song. When you're a big star and a magician you get to do whatever you want, I pointed out.

https://youtu.be/1OOkhwpHT6k

For his final number, I come onstage to assist him. He's going to do an on stage quick costume change, then the final trick- pulling a rabbit out of a hat, all while singing Abracadabra by The Steve Miller Band!

https://youtu.be/7QyoRzZrF00

The costume change goes off without a hitch. Then, voila! A rabbit comes out of the hat! Standing ovation! Rhoda has done it again!

Fredrick invites all us queens to go out to a club and party with him and his friends. We're still in drag, looking fabulous and sitting in the VIP section enjoying a free meal. The laughter and conversation is so wonderful. I love being around people who "get" what I do and don't judge me. I hang around until my corset has been on so long I'm uncomfortable. Politely, I excuse myself. 

"You're amazing, don't forget that." Fredrick says as he hands me a fifty dollar bill,"Here's a tip"

I take it (because he never lets me say "no") and decide to use it take Grace somewhere really nice for lunch, if she accepts.