Drag queens stepping out

By JULIE MIDDLETON

These are the nights of the long fingernails. Karangahape Rd's rival drag queen restaurants Caluzzi and newcomer Finale, all of 100m apart, are scrapping for supremacy.

It started in May when long-time Caluzzi drag queen Felisha (his mum christened him Hemi Kini 33 years ago) and four others defected from Caluzzi, a well-known Auckland dinner-and-drag venue, to newcomer Finale.

Starting as a chef eight years ago when Caluzzi was solely a restaurant, Felisha's part-time lip-synching drag act among diners' tables grew into a money-spinning troupe over the past six. In recent years, the food has run a distinct second to the entertainment.

But Felisha dreamed of bigger, brighter things and a professionally lit stage - "evolution in our profession", she giggles, talking at the upstairs club in boy mode without makeup.

And defection was certain the night her friend and former flatmate Arlana Delamere took her parents to Caluzzi to see Felisha in full flounce. "They saw I could do something better," says the 28-year-old mum of two, whose background is hospitality and event organising.

Arlana Delamere is the offspring of former Government minister-turned-immigration consultant Tuariki John Delamere and wife Joell. They have bankrolled her first business to the tune of $400,000.

On Friday and Saturday nights since, appropriately, Queen's Birthday weekend, show director Felisha and her girls, all gay men, have lip-synched in fishnets, frocks and feathers in the style of Debbie Dorday, whose former Parnell cabaret Burgundy's hauled in punters for years. Dorday is their inspiration and Delamere reckons cabaret is undergoing a revival.

Caluzzi boss Paul Oatham is affronted that "someone stole my drag queens" and mutters defensively about being "shafted", but settles for fighting words.

"I've been asked to open in Hamilton and Wellington [in the past]," he asserts, "but the country's not big enough. If the country's not big enough", he adds, "K Rd's not big enough."

Among gays, says Felisha, drag is no longer a novelty. So both venues seek the land of the straight, mostly white crowd - social club members, hen-night squawkers and those after an off-the-wall evening, with audiences largely aged over 40.

Visitors, especially men, might think they are viewing something risque, says Davina (christened David Rogers 33 years ago), "but they realise it's just make-up and dresses and that we're still human".

"It's an education [for them]."

Drag queens, giggles Felisha, are simply "homosexuals with too much personality for one gender".

Softly spoken Davina, who has been on stage since she was a six-year-old Highland dancer, says she "created Davina to do all the things David wanted to do. David's a bit of a shy person." Versatile, too. Like many in the drag world, he is also a chef, and runs Finale's kitchen.

Caluzzi's loss is actually its gain, say the pair. The way is now open for up-and-coming "princesses" to find an audience there.

Says Felisha: "There are steps in drag one must take."

To this end, the venue intends hosting open nights where wannabes can get used to being on stage.

Warning: serious contenders only, teetering platforms obligatory and ability to cope with large personalities a distinct advantage.