photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Shequida & her back-up dancers.
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On May 30, to round out Memorial Day Weekend, Shequida gave her first Ice Palace show of the season, assisted by DJ Chuck McTague. The 11 p.m. show started promptly at 12:25 a.m.

Matters began on a high note. The new curtain unfurled to reveal Shequida in a red cape, a short red costume showing a lot of leg, and spikes issuing from her hair, reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty’s crown, singing “Vissi d’arte,” from “Tosca,” surrounded by four bare-chested backup dancers in red jockstraps over black leather pants. She changed into black look-of-leather, with spikes coming from her shoulders, to join the dancers in a number. She got the audience clapping along with a gospel-ish a cappella song, then on to some Rihanna (“the only girl in the world”), which ended abruptly with her feigning getting shot.

Shequida’s guest, Ginger Snapt, favored us with a couple of rude Wendy Ho parodies. Then Shequida joined Ginger for a dialogue about a favorite pimp.
There was more opera when Shequida lip-synched to the Queen of Night’s “Der Hölle Rache,” from “Die Zauberflöte,” punctuated not only with the written high Fs, but also with the low Fs of flatulence. When she sang what she calls her “tipping song,” “(I’m your) Tranny Singer,” her version of “Private Dancer,” she interpolated a bit of “Un bel dì,” from “Madama Butterfly.”

Shequida and Ginger joined forces for their finale, “It’s Raining/Enough Is Enough,” but when the dancers started flinging water—i.e. the rain—over the audience onto the stage and, having had my jeans fully soaked, I feared for the safety of camera, leather, notes, and press ID, I knew it was time to pack up and leave.

Catch Shequida on Mondays at 11-ish, but leave anything you care about at home.