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Issue one: Contents Peaches
Christ |
Wigstock
is a larger-than-life and joyous celebration of life, liberty and
the pursuit of big hair. The footage switches between performance and behind-the-scenes interviews. Everyone is excited about the event but, most of all, panicking about their hair. Our host for the movie is Alexis Arquette - resplendent in floor length white lace, he screams and cackles his way around Manhattan, making stops for wigs and clothes. Having finally settled on a "do", he amuses himself by intimidating just about everyone he meets. He befriends a bemused but sympathetic straight guy who has donned a ra-ra skirt for the day, then flounces off to scare the burly construction workers who are nervously building the stage. Meanwhile, Lypsinka is being bothered by a midget, Leigh Bowery is giving birth to the festival's first baby and there are musical treats from Crystal Waters, Rupaul, Jackie Beat and Deelite. As it says at the beginning of the film - "You feel so much more fabulous when you're in drag." |
In
1984, a group of drunken New Yorkers fell out of the Pyramid Club
and found themselves in neighbouring Tompkins Square Park. After
amusing each other on the bandstand, they came up with the idea
of hosting a day-long drag show. Lady Bunny took up the mantle of
organiser, and in 1985 the first Wigstock festival was born. It
soon became a New York institution with crowds growing bigger by
the year. In 1993 and ‘94, director Barry Shils took his camera
along so he could share the vision with the world.