How I Learned To Love Drag Part 2

"The difference between mononucleosis and herpes is all a matter of approach. You get mono from snatching kisses . . . "

In retrospect, I know they sounded juvenile, but it was my first time. And as an 18 year old, sexual humor still held my attention.

Gaining some confidence from an encouraging start, I seemed to hit my stride about midway through the monologue. Then I got a little too cocky. I tried a little interaction with the audience. When that fell flat, I got heckled. But, when I stuck to the planned routine, I recovered. And when I finished, I got a little better than polite applause.

Nevertheless, I was hooked! The adrenaline rush of performing it was addictive!

Two weeks later, with a revamped monologue, I tried again. The second time was much better! It was a true success! Intuitively I knew what to do! It was so good that the club manager offered to pay me to make my third appearance!

Within three months I was a regular comedian on the Southern Manitoba comedy circuit.

My parents were dead set against it, thinking I was a totally unrealistic dreamer. A career in show business?

To my parents, becoming a comedian was insane. Too risky! So few people became big stars in show business. On the other hand, getting a university education, getting into a profession such as law, medicine, engineering, or even teaching, was a real career - a guarantee of a comfortable lifestyle.

But they didn't understand my passion for comedy. The rush I felt when the audience loved me! How I fed on the applause!

Being a comedian was what I needed to do. It's what I lived for! I didn't have a choice. The pull was an overwhelming force!

When I announced I wasn't going to university, my parents thought I was Anakin Skywalker crossing over to the Dark Side. I became Darth Vader. My mother and father kicked me out of the house.

So, having little choice, I joined the evil Empire.

I spent five years on the fringes of the universe, traveling to the far-flung outposts of the Canadian comedy club circuit. Honing my craft, building a reputation, hoping for a break.

ECSTASY was my shot at stardom. And redemption.