am
going to keep a diary of Mardi Gras events. Stay tuned and stay up to date.
Click on some photos for larger version.
Copyright (C) Pinkboard 1998.
It was already a hot day and it was hot in the workshop area which had been cleared out so we could all fit in. The champagne and cold drinks were needed to stave off the dehydration. Speeches from the Festival Director telling us about the well over 100 events that form the festival, and from President Bev launching the poster and the guide itself. Then it was off to work with a couple of champagnes under my belt. hic.
22nd January, 1998Banners go up on the Burdekin and Oxford Hotels.
24th January, 1998Bought a digital camera so I can get great immediate coverage of all the important Mardi Gras events.
Went to the Mardi Gras workshop to start building my part of our float.
Flags go up along Oxford Street. Just another little sign that its Mardi Gras!
Now I know that it is really Mardi Gras. We were all there on the Opera House forecourt, 27,000 of us in a beautiful summer Sydney evening. God even put on a pink sunset. ("Fred's done his dash.") Julie McCrossin started by welcoming the "most charming and beautiful group of deviants I have ever seen". She was ably assisted by Amanda the signer whom she threatened to kiss. The Wirrajerri, Aora and Gadigal Aboriginal Nations welcomed us to their land to the accompaniment of Gavin Flick on the didgeridoo and Mardi Gras acknowledged the reconcilliation process. Mitchell Butell and Paul Flynn sang Now Until the Break of Day. President Bev then welcomed us to the world's biggest gay and lesbian festival. We are now finally recognised by even the Sydney Morning Herald with a 24 page guide. "Celebrate, dream and remember." We all then turned around and cast our eyes skywards to watch Hugh Munroe sing Circle of Life on top of the sails of the Opera House.
The special guest for the evening was Dorothy McRae McMahon. Dorothy came out to the Uniting Church and the world last year in the middle of a debate on whether to allow ordination of lesbians and gay men. At the time she was the National Director of Mission, the 2nd most important post in Australia. Despite the chursh deciding not to allow ordination of lesbians and gay men, she has been confirmed as a minister. (This announcement was followed by almost a minute of applause.) She also mentioned that the bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals while it contains 316 admonishments to heterosexuals. They need more supervision.
Eight drag queens in pink sequins then delighted the crowd with
History Repeating by the incomporable Shirley Bassey and the
Propellorheads. Due to my great excitement during this song my pencil
dropped down the crack in the Opera House steps.
I do remember Richard Wherret talking about growing up gay and
someone singing Caberet. Finally we had a couple of dozen people
with flares creating lots and lots of pink smoke.
more photos
Turned on OutFM 94.5 gay and lesbian community radio for the Mardi Gras month.
Went to the beach to work on my tan. Messed up whole house making MG outfits.
This wasn't exactly a Mardi Gras event, but the effects and staging at Tannhauser were worthy of our very best events. The story can also be adapted to our times: Tannhauser discoveres he is gay so leaves his home town and goes to live the hedonistic gay life. But he must resolve his past and see if he really loved that girl so he returns home. They find out about his sordid life and send him to the Pope for absolution - to make him straight again. Anyway the Pope pronounces him incurable and he returns home. Here some people accept him despite him being an outcast, but being an opera the heroine dies a tragic death.
Busy at the workshop making our float. The workshop was hot, and that wasn't because it was full of half naked men, but it is the reason they were half naked. The workshop was also a hive of activity with many working on their own floats.
... It's raining men, halleluja, it's raining men, every specimen ...
I knew it would be a different day from last year when it was overcast
when I woke up. A friend had to be there at 10am, so I went with him and
started wondering around catching up with people I hadn't seen for a
while. Not many people up that early in the morning, but slowly it started
to fill up. After wandering for a couple of hours I decided to start watching
the shows.
...
Contestants for Miss Fair Day: Conchitta, Chenille Spice, Pearl, Miss Farah Four Steps, Dolly, Barbella, Bear Spice, Miss Gay and Proud, Sue.
Compere Julie McCrossin and Phillipa Hole. Dog Show Winners: The Dog Most Valuable for Cruising - Eric and Axel; The Most Disadvantaged Dog - Andy and David; The Best Trick - Major and Johnathon; Best Look-alike - Wally, Paul and Family; Best Dog of the Show - Andy and David; Kennel of Fame - Wal (has won prizes for the last 6 years.
A small crowd at the Metro, but it was a good atmosphere. Jimmy was in fabulous voice as he wowed us his ealiest and latest hits. He was definitely worth seeing, and not just for his voice. After a bit more dancing Adeva came on. This was a totally different type of act. Changing expectations from concert to caberet took me a short while, but she was great and loved interacting with the audience. Then Frankie Knuckles started playing some fabulous House music. I was exhausted from a very full day so couldn't stay till the end.
Back to the workshop. It was rather quiet this evening. Splashed paint over lots of other peoples props which I was meant to be putting on mine.
14th February, 1998The boyfriend went out gallery hopping (picture is Truong Tan exhibition) today while I went back to the workshop. Things are really starting to take shape on my float, and all the others. Couldn't quite cope with the people wearing full makeup while I had sweat pouring off me.
14th February, 1998ACON launches their new Talk Test Test Trust campaign in the window of Hum on Oxford St.
The Pool Party is unlike any other Festival event. It has the excitement of a party with the relaxed atmosphere of an evening by the pool. And a rare opportunity to see more of some the beautiful bodies of all types. Live shows from Christine Anu and Robyn Lau and Pacific Islander dancers were watched by the crowds in and around the pool. Water fights acted as the applause, despite almost giving the technicians heart attacks. Later Gemma got the dance floor really pumping.
Popped into the Lizard Lounge to see Border Crossings. My favourite was Bob Downe. Then across to Fish records to buy the new Mardi Gras CD: 20 Explosive Years. It has everything from The Jacksons to the Brand New Heavies.
Workshop again.
Special event clearway signs go up for the parade. 6am till 3am the next day!
We actually found time and money to go to the theatre. Last year we saw lots, but this year my boyfriend and I are doing a float so there is no time or money to go to the theatre. We had to go to a couple of things though, and Senesino was the first of them.
Senesino by Numinous Dance is a story of a famous castrati told through dance and song. His life includes sex, drugs, fame, love and failure, and of course that unkindest cut of all. The staging makes full use of the beautiful Paddington Town Hall as does the excellent lighting and effects. The dancing was very tight. The singing was superb as was the music, both live and recorded. See it if you can.
Pinkboard has obtained the rights to photographer Owen Hansen's coverage of the Parade for the 1998 Mardi Gras Parade Gallery (see 1996 and 1997). Owen has been photographing the parade for the last two years, with exhibitions in various venues in Newtown. His photos are curently showing in Corelli's, King St, Newtown.
Quality rather than quantity was the watchword for the evening. It was good to be able to put faces to some of the names from here. Nubar has again become a pleasant place for a drink.
After we popped into the Legend Lounge. This has become one of my favourite Festival events. Gary Scale hosted wonderfully as usual acompanied on piano by Colin Salter. The guest for the evening was Mitchell Butel (appearing in Follies) who sang a wide variety of songs. A pleasant night, except the venue is less than ideal for it.
Oxford Street was packed with people having fun, spending money for a good cause and catching up with friends. The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation is one of the worthiest charities in Sydney.
It was the first time they permitted anyone to project onto the sails of the Opera House. And it was a beautiful night for it too. We found a place on the edge of the Opera House forecourt where they have thoughtfully provided reclining benches. Lisa Anderson's show started with projections onto the pylon of the Harbour Bridge. Unfortunately it was a bit far away to see what was happening. When the projections started on the sails themselves was when the show got good. All sorts of images, including many of the inside of the concert hall were fitted beautifully to the sails. For the finale she turned the Opera House pink!
Went to the workshop and finished off my bit of our float there. OK. It's time to tell you. Our group is Fractured Fairy Tales and I am the Fairy and I will be pushing the book. The rest of the group is Poof the Magic Dragon, the Knight in Very Shiny Armour and the Damsel in Dis-Dress, Cinder-f***ing-rella and her Glass Butt Plug, Red the Little Hood and the Wolf in Sluts Clothing. Watch out for us!
Another of my favourite festival events is Club Bent. We are only doing it once this year, but it is well worth more than one visit. The compere of the evening was Pauline Pantsdown. JJJ has been prevented from playing her song Back Door Man by another Pauline. There were 8 acts of which I liked best Mamie's 2 acts and the unscheduled dance by someone whose name I can't remember. (He replaced an act that ran off to join the circus.) Favourite joke from Pauline: She mentioned some free Mardi Gras events for those of us who are running out of money, including calling 013 and asking the operator what they are wearing.
Started helping at bump-in. For those that don't know, the setting up of the party is known as bump-in, and it requires lots of volunteer helpers. The party is starting to take shape with the lights up in the RHI and the Horden. Didn't see anything else today. I was painting the stage black and a few other minor jobs.
They turned Centerpoint pink from sunset tonight till Sunday.
Did some black plasticing and helped erect a massive constructions. Then wrapping things in black material in the RHI. Watched a rehersal while we were doing this. Spent all night at a friends party.
Spent all morning hanging signs in the heat. Did a bit more painting and plasticing. Watched the same rehersal again.
Watch for parade photo gallery.
It was the gayest and lesbianest party for years with the hottest, sweatiest dance floor. The straights that were there fitted in. The music was great and the lighting was exquisite. I especially liked the colours in the Horden and the lasers in the RHI. Both Steven and Sveta in the Dome played the best music. Warren Gluck kept things pumping in the RHI. There were 6 shows, of which I only saw 3. In the RHI midnight was a Janet number, 2am was Danni, 3am was 100+ drags doing I Am What I Am, 4am was Kylie, 6am was drags hanging from hoops in the lighting rig, and the closing show at 10am was Jimmy Sommerville singing Smalltown Boy and Never Can Say Goodbye with a finale by Moggadonna. There was also a Dolly number in the Horden. My only complaints about the night were the queue to get in, that the party never lasts long enough and there were too many stunning men.
What do you do when the party isn't enough? You go to recovery! The lane was packed with people dancing and chatting. All the coffee shops on Oxford St were full. So was everything else that was open. My pick of the recovery venues was Nubar. The music was great and everyone was having a good time.
Channel 10 showed the parade at 8:30pm for 2 hours. It was presented by Bob Downe with Maynard and Vanessa Wagner and many guests and produced by Beyond. They showed our float including me (the Fairy pushing the Fractured Fairy Tales book) and my boyfriend (the Night in Very Shiny Armour - glowsticks)!