We had a corker of a night at Polari Goes Pope (especially themed to mark the controversial visit this week of the Holy Fascist Ratzinger to these shores.)
Opening the evening, our host Paul Burston arrived in ecclesiastical vestments, complimented beautifully by scarlet platform stillies!
Teetering on and off the stage, he introduced our first guest reader - the marvellous Irish firebrand Catherine Brogan. We'd heard Miss Brogan read at Polari before, but this time, given the subject matter and her own Catholic upbringing, she really let rip! I like this woman...
Next up was the brilliant Scouser performance poet (another favourite of mine from a few Polaris ago) Gerry Potter, who read some new poems from his second autobiographical anthology Planet Middle Age, plus a poetic tribute to his mate David Hoyle, and a couple of works by his former alter-ego Chloe Poems. Particularly brilliant were I Wanna Be Fucked By Jesus(!) and The Effeminate (which I definitely want read out at my funeral!):
Then came the real surprise of the evening, as Paul took great delight in introducing to the stage none other than one of the most influential radical politicians of the 20th Century Tariq Ali to formally launch the book of the moment The Pope is Not Gay by Angelo Quatrocchi.
This is the man who argued against the Vietnam War in a debate with Henry Kissinger, who was a close friend of John Lennon and was cited as an influence by Malcolm X, the author of a controversial critique of the General Zia regime that crushed the Bhutto dynasty in Pakistan (The Leopard and the Fox) and the best-seller Trotsky for Beginners.
A most influential figure in the Leftist politics that emerged from the 1960s, Mr Ali's presence at an event like this was indeed a shining endorsement of the book, and its excoriation of Ratzinger's reputation... I (and most of the audience) was moved to purchase a copy, and I can't wait to read it!
After the break we had a triple bill of anarchic entertainment, as Paul introduced a man whose CV is most impressive - James Maker, close personal mate of Morrissey, former singer with "gay heavy metallers" Red Patent Leather Angels (RPLA), sometime actor, Punk and poet. Reading from his memoir Autofellatio, he cut an impressive dash in his frock coat and stilettos!
Next up was a man who needs no further comment from me, the marvellous David Hoyle, berating the establishment as only he knows how. He was swiftly followed by another genuine treat to close the show - the (very cute) musical maverick genius that is Ste McCabe, radical homosexual and Pope-hater. His songs, delivered in a "faux-innocent" "Jilted John" style, are pithy insights into the way a working class gay boy sees the world, and are just stupendous! From I've Got A Big Car to Kill The Pope, we were just stunned by his energy...
John-John and Tony both purchased copies of his Murder Music CD, which the lovely (and rather fanciable!) Mr McCabe duly signed.
After the dust had settled and the audience started to drift away, Paul invited us back to the "Green Room" to take a few more snaps with the performers - in a bleak little space which is apparently used by Her Majesty when she visits. She'd need gloves I reckon...
It was all over too soon, so we retired to seek some more alcoholic solace at the pub quiz at Retro Bar. A sparkling night's entertainment, and a fitting start to the Autumn/Winter Season, methinks!
Polari
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