FOF #198 - The Queen of Camp, part 1 - 11.17.05
Charles Busch's first play, "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom," was written in-between coffee breaks while working as a temp in Manhattan. He and his friends just HAD to put on the show. They loved what they did and were passionate about making it happen.
Today, "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" is considered one of the all-time best gay plays and camp classics. He recently won an acting award from the Sundance Film Fesitival for his starring role in "Die Mommie Die"
Charles has appeared in "Addams Family Values" and worked with Rosie O'Donnell on Boy George's short-lived Broadway production of "Taboo."
On today's podcast our local and lovely Chicago theater figure David Cerda, well known for playing Joan Crawford in more plays than ANY person in the history of the world, talks to his pal Charles Busch with Fausto about his carreer, his work, and being invovled in the short-lived Broadway musical Taboo.
David writes on his blog: "Surprisingly frank when it came to Taboo and the folks involved. What did he say? Well, I guess you'll just have to tune in, won't you? Charles really is great guy and is really an inspiration for me and it was so much fun dishing with him about just everything."
I feel the same way.
Stay tuned for part two of our conversation with Charles Busch tomorrow and on Monday for our special SUPER-SIZED 200 show!
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Comments
Loved the interview with Charles. I'm so jealous that i wasn't there for it. I loved hearing about Charles' projects. The three of you had great chemistry.
Said by: Marc Felion at November 17, 2005 02:35 PM
Well of course we had great chemistry, Marc. We're blood sisters.
Said by: David at November 17, 2005 02:52 PM
Wow! Super interview! I have a friend who lives across from Christopher Park in West Village near Charles Ludlum's old theatre. It was nice to hear about the generational "stalking" theory (Cerda via Busch via Ludlum!) and especially Busch's ideas regarding gay male/female movie star identity as a result of lack of gay iconography and the times, and how that may very well change now that there is more cultural visability for the GLBT (always sounds like a sandwich to me) community.
Thanks so much, Fausto and David, for lining this up! Bravi!
Marc - I missed you. Hurry home.
Love; Ciao
Said by: Aaron B. at November 17, 2005 02:56 PM
Omigod I'm so excited! I LOVE Charles Busch!
Said by: Chris Garcia at November 17, 2005 05:39 PM
this is one of my favorite interviews yet! it's nice to hear you talking to people outside of your scene without the wind-turbine "on location" sounds!
Said by: folkyboy at November 17, 2005 06:04 PM
What show are your referencing?
Said by: Fausto at November 17, 2005 08:11 PM
I enjoyed hearing the show too! I just wish Fausto would have asked Charles if he knows my old, dear friend, Terrence McNally. I'm sure he does... Charles, if you happen to read this, please say hi to Terrence from me, Fausto's mom... Great going, guys! Patriciai
Said by: Patricia Fernós at November 17, 2005 09:05 PM
Great show guys! It was a special treat to have two episodes to listen to on the way to work today (the previous show got missed on iTunes)...
Bravo!
Buzz
Said by: Buzz at November 17, 2005 10:10 PM
oh i was talking about #181 & #182 where it was REALLY hard to tell what was going down without a video cast or something...
i LOVED this interview tho!
Said by: folkyboy at November 18, 2005 12:40 AM
Mom! We talked about Terrence! In part two. Now you gotta get Mr. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" to talk to us... hee hee.
Said by: Fausto at November 18, 2005 03:32 AM
Oh I see Folkyboy... those were supposed to be soundseeing tours, where we walk around with our portable recording equipment and chat with folks... did we not explain who we were talking with on those shows?
I always welcome constructive feedback (like your comment Folky B) because it helps me get an idea of where I'm forgetting to orient the listener.
We just sometimes get caught up in the razzle dazzle moment of the theatricality and forget to describe better what people can't see.
Said by: Fausto at November 18, 2005 03:37 AM
Great interview, Fausto and David. Should there ever be a Gay 60 Minutes, I'd pick you two in a heartbeat! Not that I'm CBS or anything...
Said by: Brandon at November 18, 2005 11:00 AM
Yes! I could see David in the Mike Wallace role of breaking down scandals in entertainment:
DAVID: So you admit, those aren't your REAL tits??!!
ASHLEE (in a deep voice): No! They're my testicles...and now everyone knows. I'm so ashamed! (breaks down)
DAVID: No WONDER you lip-synched...
And Fausto, you'd make a great Leslie Stahl--she has blue hair too! :-) And she swings a mean microphone...
Said by: Aaron S. at November 18, 2005 11:59 AM
I do swing a mean mic... but what I want to known then is, who is FOF-Dianne Sawyer?
Said by: Fausto at November 18, 2005 03:16 PM
Miss Ronnie...she's feisty, too! :-)
Said by: Aaron S. at November 18, 2005 07:39 PM
I'm behind on the casts so I just heard this one. Great interview. I adore Charles. And Fausto, you are correct: Charles looks great out of make-up, too! Yum! :)
Said by: Joe G. at November 18, 2005 08:48 PM
Charles...it takes REAL acting to upstage Jessica Morris ("Jennifer Rappaport, 'One Life To Live'), but, baby, you did it!
OK, that wasn't such an achievement...but, damn, Angela Arden will stick in my mind forever...! I cried BUCKETS at the end of "Die Mommie Die." Not many can do a camp role that's still very deep...you're our HERO.(INE?..?)! You have such a great sensitivity...thank you, thank you, thank you...! And thank YOU, David and Fausto, for bringing us this glimpse of true genius...I aspire to be as intelligent an interpreter as you!
("Almond Joy got nuts...Mounds don't!")
Said by: Aaron S. at November 19, 2005 12:45 AM
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