The image assumed by the phrase “Alternative Miss Ireland” is of a lot of wigs and make-up. Technically this is true, if you count a fake beard as a wig. Think of it as alternative comedy, with costumes.
On Sunday the 14th of February 2010, the doors of the Savoy Theatre in Cork open at 8pm and present an evening of alternative comedy and a fantastic variety of contestants for the whole of Cork to behold in the shape of the Alternative Miss Cork pageant. The winner of the pageant will represent Cork at the annual Alternative Miss Ireland in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre in March. The events are a fun means of raising funds for charities who help the many HIV positive people in Ireland.
If you have not been to an Alternative Miss Cork Show, I’ll explain. It will be hosted by the one and only Panti, also known as Miss Panti Bliss, and considered by many as the Grande Dame, a prolific blogger, and the most influential of all Irish drag queens. She gets name-checked by politicians and campaigners. Not a novelty act, but a force for change. (Insert politician quitting joke here if you must).
The contestants must be special and their allure must be rarer, or at least rearing to go. The event is judged by a panel of experienced and renowned celebrity judges who are looking for a very specific set of characteristics to award the Alternative Miss Cork crown. The characteristic valued is originality, but also our ‘queen’ must be overflowing with charisma and be an all-round entertainer to win over both the celebrity judges and the crowd, during three rounds. In other words, a simple parody won’t carry much weight.
The first round is Daywear and this is where the audience get their first peek of the contestants. Then is Swimwear here the contestants parade in their own take of the ‘swim costume’ and are asked questions by the host Panti. This is followed by Eveningwear where the contestants get to perform their ‘party piece’, which can be anything, once it’s entertaining. Contestants use their own music for each of the stages and it must reflect their concept and enhance their character.
Previous Cork winners have included; Fabula de Beaumarchais, yes a drag queen, The Zimbabwean Rose, an Irish-Zimbabwean performance artist, Virgin Atlantica, an actress and comedienne who is still going strong, Lucy Furr, a South African drag queen and cabaret star, just look for her on facebook And of course the reigning Queen Twiggy Moon Dust, whom I can not describe. No seriously, I’m not allowed to.
The Alternative Miss Cork team all work for free and all profits from the event are donated to HIV and AIDS charities, in the past we have given donations to the Cork AIDS Alliance, The Rotary “Give Back A Smile Campaign” helping children with AIDS in Africa and The Southern Gay Men’s Health Project. All are very worthy charities, doing a fantastic job to help prevent the spread of HIV and help people manage and deal with their illness.
Tickets are priced at 15 euro and available from The Roundy Bar on Castle Street, Cork City, and online at www.tickets.ie (booking fee will apply) .
If you want another reason to see this contest, well, I’ve been talked in to taking part as one of the contestants. Personally I’m still debating on weather I should shave the beard off or not, but expect to see me strutting my stuff and trying to make a good show.
And no I won’t tell you about my character. You’ll have to show up to see the show yourself.
