Gay & Lesbian

The first time Miss Coco Peru performed in London, she was robbed. ‘I played at the Battersea Arts Centre for a month,’ recalls Coco’s creator, Clinton Leupp. ‘And although I had a great time, I always spent the first half-hour of the show trying to win over the audience who were still bitter that they’d had to travel all the way to Battersea! If that wasn’t bad enough, on my last night my entire salary for that month was stolen out of my purse at Heaven. Although I was devastated, I remembered that that night I’d also met Jimmy Sommerville. And since Jimmy’s music with Bronski Beat and The Communards was so much a part of my coming out experience, I thought the loss of my salary was a fair price to pay for meeting one of my idols. See? It’s important to see the brighter side of the shit that’s flung at you from time to time. It also helped to imagine that the queen who stole my money, while eating breakfast the following morning at Balans, choked to death on a particularly crispy bit of bacon and, as he took his last breath, saw my face and thought: Oh God! I knew I shouldn’t have stolen from that poor, saintly Coco Peru!’
Feature continues

That show was 12 years ago, and although Coco’s been back in town since (playing at the Freedom Bar in the days when it was also a cabaret venue) her forthcoming shows at Soho Theatre will be many people’s introduction to her. ‘It’s always been difficult to describe my act,’ says Leupp. ‘In my first show I used to tell the audience, “Pretend this is a group therapy session… and it’s my turn to talk.” I guess you can call me a drag queen/monologuist/world saviour. Well, maybe not the world saviour part, but it’s important to have goals. This show is actually a combination of all three of my shows. I guess it’s like when you buy a CD of your favorite opera, but you buy the “highlights” version because you don’t feel like listening to the whole goddamn thing.’

Some people think that all drag queens are bitchy, but for all her bittersweet emotional baggage Coco is very much a lady. ‘There is that stereotype that drag queens are bitchy,’ says Leupp. ‘And like most stereotypes, it’s true. I think there is a fine art to being a bitch, and when I created Coco I wanted that element of bitchiness to be there but never have it directed at my audience. I prefer to direct my rage at the world in general and not at the people paying my bills. And besides, since my shows are like a group therapy session, it’s important that I create a safe environment where I can do what I do best: change lives. I guess that does make me a drag queen/monologuist/world saviour! See? If you just set goals you eventually reach them. I just reached mine in a matter of a few sentences!’

London has seen its fair share of alternative drag of late, with everyone from Taylor Mac to Jonny Woo. Leupp’s is a more traditional drag act. There’s nothing of the drag terrorist about Coco, no hair skirts, no dresses made out of rubber gloves. ‘It’s been said that Coco Peru is a drag show you can take your mother to, and I completely agree,’ says Leupp. ‘Having said that, I’m not sure if that’s because people want to share the gift of Coco with their mothers or if it’s their way of saying, “Look, mom, you may not be happy with my being gay, but it could’ve been a lot worse!” ’

It’s an act that has brought her considerable mainstream success, with roles in movies like ‘Trick’ and ‘To Wong Foo…’ and, most famously, an appearance on ‘Will & Grace’. But Coco hasn’t let success go to her head. She enjoys the simple pleasures in life and is looking forward to coming to London. ‘I love it that I can get a good cup of tea just about anywhere. In America, they sometimes serve you a hot cup of water with the tea bag on the side. That hurts my feelings. But then, the last time I was in London I was mistaken for a trannie hooker! Imagine! Actually, I did think it was kind of flattering. And now, with the dollar so low and the pound so strong, it’s not only flattering, it’s an option!’

‘Miss Coco Peru’ is at the Soho Theatre from August 13. Coco would like it known that she is available for lunch.