Well I suppose I should go ahead and answer the first of my FAQ's now:
If there is any One question I am asked, or NOT asked (openly) often: it would be this:
Really, are you gay?
I'll let you in on a little secret, this is the ONLY place I will ever answer that question publicly' so you are getting your money's worth.
Let me tell you a story: This year in Arizona I received an e-mail. I personally, answer all of the e-mail I get, unless I get bunches from the same person- then I feel like it's gone from politeness on my part, to stalking on theirs: so I'm off-the-hook! When I get this e-mail from a fan (Who went by the e-mail name charmingly enough, 'Flamboyant') and it said: 'I am so glad to see three gay men performing at the Renaissance Festival' I Politely responded: Sorry to disappoint you, but neither the characters or the actors who portray them are so inclined, sexually.
Let me digress for a moment, before I confirm what I have already answered about my OWN sexuality, I want to answer about Scaramouche's:
I believe that the Scaramouche, on stage is an innocent:Â neither Gay nor Straight, but removed from both. He is a clown, at least as I play him, simpler, and cleverer than me. He is a romantic, to be sure- and appreciates beautiful women- (Ever notice he is both the biggest 'fop' on stage, and yet picks all the pretty girls?) But he is really a child.
Back to the e-mail response: This poor fellow, 'Flamboyant' went berserk! He literally e-mailed our boss at the Arizona show, as well as some local newspapers and the local 'Alternative Lifestyle� magazine. He called us everything up to and including a 'minstrel show'. It is our opinion that he was one of those poor self-loathing individuals, who was looking for insults when none were proffered. Further he mentioned several times in his rants how much happier we would be if we just gave-up and admitted we WERE gay'
Anyway, I made the decision right then and there that I would never answer the question in public forum again; except here.
I am almost embarrassed to admit that I am Straight.
I didn't want to be! I tried to deny it' I'm feminine, sensitive, and artistic- but you just can't run from your true nature' I'm sort of a closet heterosexual. don't spill my secret! Actually I remember a few years ago, Riki and I used to agonize over how we presented the show (it was only He and I on the road back then) and we were so concerned that the things we do not come across as to 'sissy'. After a while though we just got comfortable, and realized that the characters were creating themselves- and the 'swishy' stuff was really going over well, and adding whole layers of comic development. The only downside of all this is that Women started hitting on us less-and-less (Sigh).
Hey Groupies! Come back!
Actually; Pigtails, and fey antics aside: I am actually surprised that anyone really could think I was gay - ('Not', as Jerry Seinfeld says, 'That there is anything wrong with that') Watch who I talk to off-stage- and watch my eyes when a beautiful women enters the crowd- there will be no question.
