The one thing that I have always worried about with Cherry is that I want her to be liked by the audience; but as we all know, the audience is a very fickle mistress to please. In the main, Cherry is a very affable and approachable character and she is really doing what a good comedy performer would do and create a rapport with the audience using “witty banter” as Cherry so succinctly puts it. (OK, insulting people for the sheer hell of it, but that’s a perk of being a drag artist...) More to the point, the audience is also indulged when Cherry focuses on herself as the comedy element of the routine, inviting the audience to laugh at her and her antics. Her looks, her stature, her background story, all of it is her own personal heckle to herself and suffice to say the audience are generally in hysterics during this - and that is how it should be - a sort of comedy payback to the audience for indulging her in her wicked banter.
As mentioned before, the one thing you want to do for your loved ones in any situation is that you want to protect them from any adversity and I occasionally find it very difficult when Cherry does get this from an audience member, as my first instinct (as her partner) is to wade in with my size 12s and retaliate with a verbal shoeing and give the blinkered philistine a very big piece of my mind. However, as Cherry quite rightly, and regularly points out, it is not good PR to do such things – so I end up smouldering with anger and willing for some negative karmic experience to fall upon the snotty little runt!
However, over the years I have noticed how Cherry deals with these situations and must admit that she is right in what she does and in turn I have learnt how to deal with similar adverse situations. I just wish I had learnt them sooner as it would have saved me from a lot of pain and suffering...
I have worked in the construction industry for nearly 25 years and it is probably one of the most difficult industries to work in as a gay guy - and for all the diversity laws, the training and policies put in place, there will always be a situation where these are of no benefit to you – however, legally they should be. In a previous job, someone in an elevated management position thought it was ok for him to refer to my lifestyle in a derogatory manner and said a lot of hurtful things, all meant “as a joke”. When I confronted HR about these issues I was politely told that I shouldn’t really take it to heart and it was really his style of humour – so being humiliated on a daily basis was ok without any retaliation.
After a while it got that constant that I dreaded going to work, couldn’t concentrate and even thought about attempting suicide – driving down the M42 waiting for the opportunity to plough into the central reservation and ending it all; not the nicest of thoughts, but having them really scared me. Finally, I resigned - I tried to explain the reasons as to why, but even then nothing was fully taken into account apart from the main instigator saying, “It was only meant as a joke...” What made me more angry was that I let it happen and develop, which in turn caused me to become ill and have time off with stress and major depression – it’s not a nice place to be and I vowed myself never to go back there, and thankfully I haven’t, thanks to Cherry.
I have always been told that I have a very pragmatic outlook on life, which I don’t think is a bad thing as it gives a good balance to the other half of the relationship with Cherry/Hubby who is generally out there in the galaxy thinking of higher things (his aspirations as an entertainer, how to achieve greater success, what colour sequined frock should be bought next - etc.) but having fully embraced “The Way of Cherry” I have a better outlook on life in general and the ability to deal with adverse situations calmly and to not take it personally and if all else fails be brave enough to retaliate using humour.
After all, if all else fails, I do know a 7ft Amazonian drag queen who will do the job properly...you have been warned....
