Buddies and Katinka Kature do some Spring Queening
by Drew Rowsome -Photos by Raul Da Silva
Buddies' weekly Saturday night fundraiser has always included a dramatic drag queen entrance down the stairs and onto the stage to emote. But Buddies, and drag queens in general, have a limitless supply of theatrical drama so The March of the Queens was born and, Buddies and drag queens in general always in a state of constant reinvention, for April it is re-titled Spring Queening. Stay tuned for May's moniker.
Amid rotating DJs - on this evening crowdpleaser DJ Regina - and a revolving selections of queens - this evening Mona Moore, Dmanda Tension and Imarra Black - the genial Buddies staff and hostess/resident goddess Katinka Kature are the constants. Ms Kature is a voluble and sage as she is gorgeous, and she graciously shared her thoughts on Spring Queening.
"After performing on the stairs one night at Buddies, bar manager Patricia Wilson had the idea of having a few girls do a show all together and asked me if I would be interested in organizing it."
"When I started drag I was nowhere close to being the entertainer I am today. A young me would throw on some makeup ( not well), an outfit I could find and put on my heels to walk to Buddies. I always felt at Buddies I could be myself, I could show up and even though I looked like I was hauled out of deep waters, I was treated like I had a place at the bar. The nights I spent at Buddies were some of the best nights I have had and now I want people to feel the same."
"Toronto is famous for what I call 'marathon drag' where you do four songs in a row, your feet hurt, you are drenched in sweat and you feel like you want to take it all off (sometimes it falls off on its own). This show let's entertainers tailor their performances to one specific number. It allows them to create a look based around what they are performing. I think this is a great way for them to explore a different side of them, try something new, or just share what they really love. There is also a host who does all the mic work so the show is quick paced, then there is another set where the girls change and do something different than the first."
"I am often pegged as a glamour girl and I market myself as that: a showgirl beauty queen but I can also be funny; which is unexpected and can throw some people off. For this evening in particular, I encourage entertainers to bring their best drag to the stage; whether that be glamour, comedy, camp, alternative, etc. I want them to share their drag and what they love with the audience and excel at doing so."
"I really enjoy getting to hang out in the dressing room with the other entertainers in the show! Buddies has a beautiful dressing room by the way and it's great to get ready and share stories, give advice, help one another, laugh! It's a great way to start a great night."
"I hope the audience comes away saying I had so much fun. Or wow wasn't the music great? Wasn't the DJ awesome? Did you see that drag queen?! I just want everyone to feel that they came and had a wonderful night. Everyone at Buddies works extremely hard to make this night possible and I hope the audience takes that away and feels that they were part of the night."
Buddies' weekly Saturday night fundraiser has always included a dramatic drag queen entrance down the stairs and onto the stage to emote. But Buddies, and drag queens in general, have a limitless supply of theatrical drama so The March of the Queens was born and, Buddies and drag queens in general always in a state of constant reinvention, for April it is re-titled Spring Queening. Stay tuned for May's moniker. 
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