Straight Men Alerts in Vallarta!

Puerto Vallarta has a lot of things in abundance – sunshine, tequila, guacamole, sand, and salt water, etc. What we don’t have is a plethora of straight men. And while we salute, embrace, and completely adore our gay friends, these past few days have highlighted the straight men among us on two separate occasions. Ha! Bet you didn’t think THAT could happen!

First up – WAD. In its twelfth edition, What a Drag, under a new show director, Juan Alvarado Gonzalez (owner of La Catrina Cantina), took a disco theme, eight straight men, put ’em in high heels and makeup, and turned them loose onstage in the cavernous Teatro Vallarta.

This charitable event raises money for Casa Esperanza, Vallarta’s only shelter for women who have suffered abuse and their children. Hundreds of people attended, knowing the show would be hilarious; everybody in town was there. Add an open bar and Amy Armstrong as Emcee, and there’s a party waiting to happen.

Tropicasa Realty’s David Abiram Sanchez Perez, as ”Davina Divine,” won, with Fairy Drag Mother Spencer Daily, and makeup by Christian Rodriguez. Three and a half million pesos were raised, and the hunt starts now to find eight other straight men to compete next March. Well done to all those involved; the hope remains that this event will one day become unnecessary.

The day before yesterday, Monday, The Palm Cabaret unleashed the ”Rat Pack Show,” produced by the amazing Chris Lopez. The show was inspired by the early 1960s shenanigans in Las Vegas led by the so-called Rat Pack lounge singers and later headliners like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin. This is NOT a tribute show per se, nobody is imitating any one of the above-mentioned superstars. Rather, the show is a nod to black bow ties, champagne, cocktails, poker games, and swoon-inducing vocals, jazzy piano, and sweet, sophisticated songs, many of them obscure, which added to the overall panache of the production.

Alexis Macias is the newest singer to work with Chris Lopez onstage at The Palm. Alexis is a fine singer and pianist and heads the Roxsand Band, which often backs Kevin Anthony in his shows. And Alexis is straight, and as a matter of fact, Alexis Junior plays bass guitar in his band. Next straight guy is Nacho Granados, an Argentine (as is Chris Lopez) with a superb voice, and he is one of the best emcees in the city. The third straight man in the mix, who pays tribute to one of the greatest gay singers of all time, Freddie Mercury, twice a week, is Roy Cruz.

Armando Chakam, sauve and slick at the same time, was the only gay in the quartet; I only mention this because THEY brought it up!

The Rat Pack Show is absolutely delightful – our four singers interact beautifully with the audience, and they were happily surprised with a sold-out Opening Night. Only one key factor was missing in recreating the overall ambiance of this 60s production (for which I am forever grateful): NOBODY was smoking cigarettes, From Here.