I want my undulating undies with the maribou frills

So, the countdown to World Pride continues in earnest! I have finally (I think) added the finishing touches to our outfits. Others in our gang are busy having dress rehearsals, brushing out their wigs and sewing on their sequins in readiness for the big day on Saturday...

And just to spur us all along a bit with our final preparations, here's a reminder of how it should be done:

Definitely one of the campest moments committed to celluloid - ever!

Come on and dress me, dress me, dress me in my finest array
‘Cause just in case you haven’t heard, today is doe-me-doe day!
Dress me in my silver garters, dress me in my diamond studs
‘Cause I’m going doe-me-doing in my doe-me-doe duds!

I want my undulating undies with the marabou frills
I want by beautiful bolero with the porcupine quills
I want my purple nylon girdle with the orange-blossom buds
‘Cause I’m going doe-me-doing in my doe-me-doe duds!

Come on and dress me, dress me, dress me in my peek-a-boo blouse
With the lovely inner lining made of Chesapeake mouse
I want my polka-dotted dickie with the crinoline fringe
For I’m going doe-me-doing on a doe-me-doe binge!

I want my lavender spats, and in addition to them
I want my honey-coloured corset with the herringbone hem
I want my softest little jacket made of watermelon suede
I want my long persimmon placket with the platinum braid
I want my leg-of-mutton sleeves, and in addition to those
I want my cutie chamois booties with the leopard-skin bows
I want my pink brocaded bodice with the floofy, fuzzy ruffs
And my gorgeous bright-blue bloomers with the monkey-feather cuffs
I want my organdie snood, and in addition to that
I want my chiffon Mother Hubbard lined with Hudson Bay rat
Dress me up from top to bottom, dress me up from tip to toe
Dress me up in silk and spinach, for today is my doe-me-doe day!

So come and dress me in the blossoms of a million pink trees
Come on and dress me up in liverwurst and Camembert cheese
Dress me up in pretzels, dress me up in bock-beer suds
‘Cause I’m going doe-me-doing in my doe-me-doe duds!

More on The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T in my blog back in 2009

Well, what would you do with 5,000 fingers?

Possibly one of the most bizarre films I have never seen, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T was written by none other than Dr. Seuss himself, and his musical score was nominated for an Oscar in 1953.

Among its surreal sets and over-the-top fantastical storyline, here is one of the campest musical numbers ever, featuring the film's villain Dr. Terwilliker getting dressed to conduct his 500-boy piano symphony (well, who wouldn't?). Enjoy!

It seems fairly obvious that this film was destined to become a cult - and its influences can be seen in films such as Willy Wonka, and in modern characters like Mr Burns in The Simpsons. [Incidentally, Dr. T is played by Hans Conried, who was the voice of Captain Hook in the animated Peter Pan.]

There is currently a Broadway musical of The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T in development with a new score by Glen Roven, who has a long history of musical arrangements for theatre and TV, working with (among others) Comden & Green, Liza Minelli, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis; he conducted the inaugural concerts for Presidents Clinton and Bush, and also worked on the production of the ill-fated "sexual musical" Let My People Come (from which we have the very strange soundtrack!).

I wait with trepidation for Tim Burton to catch on to this one...