Saturday, October 15, 1994Last night I accompanied Mark to the launch party for "Side Effects," the new CBC medical drama TV show. We went over to the new Broadcast Center on Front and John where tables and TV screens were set up in the foyer. It was quite a posh affair. Free booze--of course I didn't partake--and yummy food. And for what? The first episode of the show, as the critics warned us all a month or so ago, was dreadful! Parts were hard to watch while keeping a straight face.
People connected with the show admitted it wasn't great, but that by the fifth episode it improves dramatically. Well, it couldn't get any worse!
Nonetheless, I had a great time. People-watching was especially entertaining. I wonder if these schmooze parties are as pretentious as they seem, or am I just insecure about myself? Probably a bit of both.
But the outfits! I'm still not able to describe most of the costumes.
The most bizarre man caught my eye early on, and I pointed him out to Mark. Rotund, flabby-faced, he reminded me of Divine. Here's what he was wearing: a black and silver shiny patterned 'shirt,' untucked, billowing down below his knees; a kind of beanie-cap made of the same material as his 'shirt,' with some sort of black leather frilly pendant pinned on the front; underneath the shirt, a hugh black blouse, with a colourful military medal affixed; crazy black-framed glasses with glitzy silver along the top; a huge silver ring on a finger, an immense rock Mark and I speculated on whether it was a diamond or not; various and sundry bracelets and jewelry everywhere.
He was wild!
And I met him, when I went outside after the show to have a smoke. As I walked out I noticed him standing with some others in between the double doors, smoking. I thought about smoking half-inside like them, but decided to continue on outside.
A few minutes later, he was all alone in there, and he beckoned me to come join him, so I did.
"What ARE you doing, standing out there? You'll freeze!" He said he would protect me, should one of the security guards catch us. He sipped a glass of red wine as he swayed back and forth. He had just smoked a joint, he informed me, and he was trying to enjoy himself despite the horrible TV show we'd just endured, despite the awful, boring people at the party, despite the disgustingly ugly Broadcast Center that we taxpayers had paid for!
His name is Marvin and he is an "image consultant"!
"You remember Barbara Frum? Well, I created her look. I gave her that hair-do. That's what I do." As he talked, Marvin screwed up his face, his eyes, and leaned into me like he was drunk. He exuded defiance and outrageousness. He cackled a lot. I was nervous, and fascinated.
He lives way, way up north in Ontario. He doesn't HAVE to work anymore, he said, but every so often he'll be "called upon," like when Dinah Christie is in town and needs a makeover. He's been connected to Stratford over the years too, but didn't know my cousins.
"Oh, I've probably met them, I've probably even been at their house, but I don't remember their names. Why should I?"
I couldn't think of a reason why he should.
As we walked back to the party, he chastised me for walking with my right fist clenched. "It's a sign of nervousness, and you shouldn't let these fuckers think they were better than you!"
I laughed (nervously), and said I was waiting for him to notice that my shoelace was also untied. (My laces kept coming undone all evening.)
"If your shoelaces are interfering, fuck them! Take them out and throw the fuckers away!"
We separated at that point, and I told Mark about our conversation. Minutes later, Marvin pranced over to our table. "So, this must be your boyfriend." He and Mark really hit it off.
Meanwhile, I was more and more reserved in the presence of this larger-than-life queen. I enjoyed him, but he intimidated me.
As Mark and I were saying goodnight, Marvin once again chided me on my body language. Apparently, I was standing there with my arms folded into my chest. He lectured me on keeping them unclenched and unfolded, dangling down my sides.
"If you believe in the North Pole and the South Pole, then you have to believe that the body has a magnetic energy. And when you cross your arms like this you interfere with the flow of energy. You are out of alignment." He concluded with a repeat of his admonition not to let any of these fuckers make me nervous. They were no better than I.
His final comment in saying goodnight: "Like we will ever see each other again! Oh puhleeze!"
I actually hope we will.
