Moseying into West Chester some years back via horse, buggy, and GMC Yukon, I found the sweeping landscape and excessive greenery a beautiful departure from the concrete fields and industrial graveyards of Southeastern Michigan. Living here for over three years, I’ve found plenty to love and loathe about Chester County. I’ve had life-changing meals, mind-blowing hikes, and one-night stands that make me feel fortunate to call this area my home.
But I’ve always felt there was a touch of homogenization about this area. Stepford Wives. White picket fence. A big sparkly set of veneers glued to an already perfect set of teeth. Where is the grit, the minds, and the diversity I’ve been accustomed to? Maybe I’ve been looking in the wrong places, possibly my eyes were never wide enough to discover the vast, creative, and cultured underbelly that slowly and secretly turned the gears of WC. Possibly it’s hidden out of plain view. After all the best and most unique things in life need to be discovered. Poetry and story slams up town, artists in the form of painters, welders, and florists peppered in and out of back alleys, and of course a heartwarming Sunday Afternoon Drag Cabaret Show at Jazmine Thai . . . three steps from my front door.
It was a cloudless hot and humid Sunday. I was sprawled out on the stoop trying to cool off in the breeze. Town was quiet. My desire for adventure was low after a raucous evening the night before. Pouring a little gin and seltzer into my biking water bottle, I felt a lazy stroll around the neighborhood would be good for the ole’ bones. Popping off the stoop, I let out a yawn and proceeded to waltz westward down Gay, stopping only moments later after recognizing two large paper flyers on the glass doors of Jazmine Thai. One advertised the performance of a Jazz band that Jazmine hosts from time to time (and in this post-Vincent’s jazz and blue bar era, fills a much-needed gap in town), the other flyer was plastered with the headline, “A Sunday Afternoon Drag Cabaret Show!”I stood for a moment . . . gazing, scratching . . . before letting off an “hrmmm,” and a shrug, then continuing on my way. I was perplexed. It’s not often I come across a drag cabaret (or really even have a clue what it is). How had this drag show come to be in my own neighborhood Thai restaurant?
I was puzzled, though part of me was actually thrilled. It’s not often RuPaul (or Shelita Buffet for this occasion) comes strutting through town! Having a bunch of men in drag performing a Broadway review is the type of counterculture entertainment I love to stumble upon.
As the day progressed, I’d pretty much forgotten about the prospect of attending the cabaret. Just as I settled in for an exciting evening with an “In Search Of . . . with Leonard Nimoy” marathon on National Geographic, that oh so familiar email notification *BING* emanated from my MacBook. With that one little email, my evening spiraled out of my grasp and into the hands of three hot to trot queens of drag. I walked into Jazmine Thai armed with a camera and trepidation, and just as instantly I was welcomed with a happy hello and a warm smile from JoJo. I was thoroughly convinced JoJo was the most convincing and well put together drag queen I’d ever seen. After speaking to her for a few minutes I was compelled to inquire just how the hell she does it . . . and then I was introduced to her son, and the star of the evening, the lovely and talented Miss Shelita Buffet. Shelita batted her eyes and greeted me with a dainty handshake and a smile. She had broad shoulders, toned arms, and a chiseled jaw tucked behind a fitted shiny dress, beautiful make-up, and flowing hair. I found myself intimidated by her fierceness. As I fumbled with my posture and words, Shelita was obviously in her element. She answered my questions with grace and confidence while pausing between to greet friends and the audience. I soon felt at ease as Shelita’s enthusiastic voice carried through the room and the atmosphere became alive. I realized if I had been anywhere else I would have been missing out on a wondrous moment..
I was escorted to my table at the front, square center in the middle of the action. Settling in with a glass of scotch, I was greeted by the elegant Stella D’oro. Instantly, I could tell this wasn’t Stella’s first rodeo. She was comfortable and mature while being chatty and playfully sarcastic, her natural demeanor and the conversation had me laughing and reassured me I was in store for quite the show.
The house lights went down abruptly, and the DJ kicked out the first tune of the evening. “Candy Man,” trumped the buzz in the crowed. With a bright flash of the lights, Shelita was dancing feverishly on stage. In her full sailor getup she never missed a beat of the swing jazz Christina Aguilera tune, showcasing a wicked shake n’ snap, Mizz Aguilera . . . you just got outdone by a man! Snap! Snap! Snap! Shelita closed out the song with oomph, greeted and thanked the festive crowd, and instantly catapulted us right back into her drag world with the introduction and booming entrance of Stella D’oro.My entertainment loving soul seized control as I found my face plastered with a silly smirk while I sang and foot tapped along to the tunes. Flashbacks of my 7th grade Halloween costume as Scary Spice conjured up thoughts of what if and maybe I could…
Oh, I’ll just leave it to the pros (though I did look damned good!) After Stella wrapped up her stellar set, a newcomer to the drag performance world was introduced. For the first time, the world laid eyes on Ieata Snatchwell! Yup… Snatchwell, say it again kids! Ieata was a stellar performer, but above all, she shockingly resembled one hell of a woman. In fact, I may have caught her flirting with some unassuming frat boys out front. They were taking all the bait she was throwing out . . . trick or treat gentleman!
Things ignited as the second act of the show blew up with a duet. Shelita & Stella belted out rendition of tunes from the Broadway hit “Wicked”. With a bubbling smoke-spewing kettle complete with fire spouting effects (where can I get one of these for my bedroom?), the ladies worked together in perfect step. They were both adorned in dramatic costumes which gave me a perspective of how much work was needed to pull off this production.
As things dragged (get it, dragged . . . oh boy) to the finale, the crowd’s spirits lifted with their dollar bill waving hands, and frisky drag queen lovin’ boys began getting friendly with the evenings stars. Between a motorboat into the breast area of one queen, and what can only be described as a simulated sex act two feet away from my eyes, this night was filled with more surprises than anything these ladies had tucked between their legs. I never thought I’d end up spending Sunday at a drag cabaret . . . I never expected to have the all around entertaining evening that I had. I never! I never!
There is so much awesomeness to experience all around in our daily lives. Waltzing outside our box and experiencing other people’s worlds often leads one to some of the most unique experiences and people on this planet. With my Drag Show virginity slain and a massive appreciation for the work, time, and creativity these three ladies put towards their undying passion it makes me think, if life ever becomes a drag . . . may as well make it a cabaret.
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