Friday, January 21, 2011

Joelle Rabu, Aunt Joanne and The Fag Hag

Last night we attended the finale concert of Joelle Rabu at The Palm Cabaret in Puerto Vallarta. She sang a combination of Edith Piaf songs and numerous other tunes in English and French. What a voice!! Joelle became renowned in 1983 after agreeing to do a two week show of Piaf's songs at City Stage in Vancouver. The show ran for one year and ever since that time she has been in demand on stages around the world. We were lucky enough to catch the finale show along with over 100 other fans.

A variety of beach chairs was jammed into the small cabaret between the regular seating. A single waitress served drinks, never mixing the orders! I didn't notice that the margaritas were quite strong until it was too late!

Joelle's son played piano accompaniment and she invited a young Mexican man from the audience to sing La Paloma, a favourite Mexican song. Two of the band members from The Big Mess, a B.C. group, provided background instrumentals for another number. All of this talent in a two hour show for just $8.00 each!! It was great!

Following Joelle's show, the cabaret emptied to a comfortable level and we decided to stay for Aunt Joanne, a female impersonator. She was sweetly funny and could impersonate both male and female singers including Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Johnny Cash. When she did k.d. lang's version of Allelujah, I cried. Maybe it was the third margarita! And when audience members started depositing money in her bra and under her g-string, I couldn't resist! Of course, she gave me the opportunity to peek into both bra cups and was shocked that there was a straight woman in the audience! That's when my ex-husband informed me that I was probably being labelled as a "Fag Hag" and that he and John were being viewed as a gay couple!!

It was a great night of entertainment and I remember most of it!! I suspect that my two Johns will embellish the events of the evening in future stories.


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