A trio of Christmas events launch the holiday season with style - MyGayToronto
A trio of Christmas events launch the holiday season with style
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26 Nov 2019
Laughter and song are essential elements of the holiday season. And no-one knows how to create those two better than the gays. Three of the essential star-studded events launching the season are produced by some major talent: comedian Robert Watson, musical genius Chris Tsujiuchi (The Rocky Horror Show, Unravelled, Parade, Box 4901, Onegin), and the triple threat mastermind behind the Toronto Musical Concerts juggernaut, Christopher Wilson (Parade, Company, Clitoria!, Andy Warhol Musical: In Rehearsal, Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods). All three were eager to answer questions and pitch the specific delights their productions have to offer. Who knew that The Preacher's Wife was so influential?
Drew Rowsome: Will your holiday season-themed event be naughty or nice?
Robert Watson, producer and host of theGay AF Christmas Spectacular: Oh very nice, with some naughty stuff just to add flavour. The show is Gay AF after all.
Chris Tsujiuchi, producer, performer, music director and host of A Very Chris-tical Christmas Cabaret: Somewhat naughty, extremely funky.
Christopher Wilson, performer and artistic producer of Cocktails & Candy Canes: Cocktails & Candy Canes is more of "nice" season-themed event. With some occasional naughty undertones.
Are you aiming for a Hallmark channel vibe or more Black Christmas?
Robert Watson: See I actually find the Hallmark stuff more horrifying than anything, so I'm going to create a third option and go with the Discovery Channel. It's going to be wild!
Chris Tsujiuchi: I'm aiming for a Rita MacNeil Christmas special . . . but like, if Rita MacNeil were a big homo.
Christopher Wilson: More of a Hallmark channel vibe. But you can imagine the festive under dress beneath the fancy duds!
More Mariah Carey or more The Pogues?
Robert Watson: Definitely Mariah Carey, specifically from the "Honey" video.
Chris Tsujiuchi: I gotta go with Mariah Carey.
Christopher Wilson: We definitely lean more towards Mariah Carey with fabulously festive jazz, gospel, and R&B vocal stylings throughout.
Home Alone or Active Duty’s 6-Man Christmas Orgy?
Robert Watson:It's a comedy show so probably Home Alone, but I think orgies are hilarious so I'm torn between the two . . .
Chris Tsujiuchi: The Preacher's Wife. Whitney Houston's vocals on that soundtrack are pretty close to perfection.
Christopher Wilson: Home Alone to keep it PG-friendly for the families and kids.
Ugly Christmas sweater or “don we now our gay apparel?”
Robert Watson: Wear what you want! But do wear something - this isn't a 6-man Christmas orgy.
Chris Tsujiuchi: I'd like a dick in a box. So, gay apparel?
Christopher Wilson: Predominantly Ugly Christmas sweater with a definite twist of "don we now our gay apparel," Chris Tsujiuchi is on the playbill after all.
What makes your event stand out amidst the avalanche of seasonal entertainment?
Robert Watson: Well the show is called Gay AF Christmas Spectacular, which pretty much tells you everything. We're taking up space at Comedy Bar with a show that features Toronto queer comedy favourites Ted Morris, Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Kyle Brownrigg and more.
Chris Tsujiuchi: I make it snow inside, I tap dance, there's a gospel choir . . . it's wild. I think that the musical line up is second to none; my band, featured singers, and special guests are all people who I am so privileged to be making music with. I also think the stories I tell in the Christmas Cabaret have a great deal of heart; I address how hard the Christmas season can be for people, especially members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Christopher Wilson: Cocktails & Candy Canes is an annual festive frolic - running about a decade now - featuring some of Toronto's hottest professional musical theatre talents.
Some people can never hear enough carols, some are driven quickly mad by the endless repetition and cheer. Some people devour figgy pudding, some gag at the sight of another candy cane. How are you going to satisfy such a dichotomy of expectations?
Robert Watson: We're going to knock their stockings off with amazing sketch, drag, music and stand up comedy performances from some of the top gay male comedy performers in the city. And we'll have some super gay prizes to give away so that's always fun!
Chris Tsujiuchi: I try to exclude songs that you might hear over and over at the mall from my setlist. My opening number for example is a parody of Beyonce's "Halo" that you've probably never heard unless you've been at my show.
Christopher Wilson: Cocktails & Candy Canes is an eclectic mix of traditional holiday fare fused with entertaining and rockin' arrangements, power house vocals, and original Canadian musical compositions.
Who are the elves assisting you and why are they so exciting?
Robert Watson: Sexy Santa will be helping to hand out the prizes we're giving away, so hopefully he's bringing along some elves to keep him fluffed. But once again I want to reiterate, this is not a 6-man Christmas orgy.
Chris Tsujiuchi: Andrew McAnsh is my special trumpet player, this will be his first year with the Chris-terical Christmas Cabaret. Colin Asuncion just placed top three in the Great Canadian Baking Show! His voice is just as delicious as his cakes and pies. Possibly more delicious. Eric Haynes is playing the keyboard. He also plays keyboard in one of my favourite bands; Busty and the Bass. Jeff Deegan, in addition to being the tallest elf, and possibly the handsomest elf, is an amazing bass player. Kevin Wong continues to write hit show after hit show as a composer/lyricist and I'm so lucky he makes the time to sing in the Christmas Cabaret. Leah Canali is internet famous for her RuPaul covers. She is ferocious and will be a featured singer this year. Robin Claxton has been a wonderful friend - and the drummer at my Christmas Cabaret - for as long as I can remember. Steve John Dale is my guitarist, and bestie. I absolutely adore him, and I can't imagine my life without him. Taylor Cook is my special sax player this year. He also doubles on flute, so we're incorporating that into the show this year. My surprise special guests are . . . well, a surprise. So you're just going to have to come see how wonderful they are.
What was your most memorable Christmas season performance?
Robert Watson: In high school I crashed the annual Christmas concert wearing a gorilla suit, grabbed one of the choir girls off stage and carried her out of the auditorium screaming (she was in on the joke of course). No one ever knew that it was me!
Chris Tsujiuchi: To date, last year's Christmas Cabaret was the most memorable. I got to do three performances in Toronto, two performances in Collingwood, I sang at Sharron Matthews' Not So Silent Night, and my Christmas album came out. [A Cris-tical Christmas Album will be available for purchase at the cabaret]
Christopher Wilson: We enjoy our gospel performances of "He Shall Purify" (Handel's Soulful Messiah) and none other than Whitney Houston's rendition of "Joy to the World" from The Preacher's Wife.
If visions of sugar plums dance in the heads of children on Christmas Eve, what will dance in the dreams of your audience when they tuck into bed after attending your event?
Robert Watson: I'm hoping as our audience goes to bed they think about their Gay AF Christmas Spectacular experience and will laugh themselves to sleep!
Chris Tsujiuchi: I don't know about the audience, but between my never ending obsession with Christmas, and following all the US news coverage right now, I imagine my dreams will involve Trevor Noah or Stephen Colbert wearing nothing but a Christmas bow.
Christopher Wilson: If we have succeeded in plying them with adequate cocktails to accompany their musical candy canes, then I sincerely hope that our adult audience members will pleasantly dream of strategically placed mistletoe.
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