On September 17, in a benefit organized by Donna Piranha, dedicated performers from the Ice Palace, Cherry’s, and the rest of the community collaborated on a show, hosted by Ken “Sonny Shores” Woodhouse, assisted by DJ Chuck McTague, to raise money to aid those harmed by disastrous hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Jose.
Sonny opened the show as a slick singing and politicking cowboy governor, evading responsibility by dancing a little “Sidestep,” from “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” which this writer and baritone followed with “Memory” from “Cats.” Whore D’Oeuvre angrily excoriated a cardboard cut-out Trump, asking, “What About Us?” Peter Chmiel sang sadly, to Whore, “Say Something (I’m giving up on you).”
Candi Cox made an Ice Palace debut with “Mambo Italiano,” with interpolated rude comments. Whore D’Oeuvre and Matthew George, backups in wigs with rollers, assisted Sonny in his lament “Beauty School Dropout,” from “Grease.” An instrumental interlude, by Wendy Pinkhouse on mouth organ, Sonny on Jew’s harp, and SallyAnn Piacentino on tambourine, followed. Then Sonny announced that Rev. Ray Bagnuolo had collected $2,500 in checks from his Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ congregants to add to this relief effort, which, added to the $1,719 raised at the show, came to a grand total of $4,219.
Matthew sang of love in “Close Your Eyes” and Whore resolutely offered her “Fight Song.” SallyAnn used her “Intuition” with flair, as she hauled handcuffs, flail, boa, and whip out of her bag. Boudoir LeFleur and Kimmi Moore brought down the house with their “Bitch” production number—“Wrong Bitch,” “I’m a Bitch,” “Bow Down (bitches), “Bitch Better Have My Money,” and more—with literal pyrotechnics and fiercely coordinated dancing.
Antoine, singing and swinging, gave us “For Once in My Life.” Porsche brought in funds on the spot by fulfilling requests for “Over the Rainbow,” from “The Wizard of Oz,” and a dramatic “Rose’s Turn,” from “Gypsy,” and joined forces with Sonny for “I Got You Babe.” Miss Fire Island 2016 Honey Davenport sang inspiring Lady Gaga anthem “Angel Down.” Sonny closed the show with a sizzling “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and a sing-along of “Sweet Caroline.”