Rufus Does Judy! Again! In Drag!

Yep, that's Rufus Wainwright REALLY channeling Judy Garland during an encore last night at the Gramercy Theatre in NYC. Photo via Flickr, Tixgirl.

Last night I had the good fortune to catch Rufus Wainwright's first of four shows in NYC this week at the Gramercy Theater. He performed lots of tunes from his latest album, Release the Stars, for the adoring sold-out crowd. But he also delivered some numbers from Want One and Want Two, and a few tunes from his Judy Garland tribute shows. In fact, come encore time, Rufus really got into the spirit of all things Garland and cranked a fantastic, flirty drag performance of Garland's nugget "Get Happy." See the photo (more after the jump)! Rufe ain't fooling around... (Or actually, he is; and it was pretty fun.)

Here's the deal (and I may get the song order mixed up, but you'll get the general idea): For the first segment of the show, Rufus was decked out in a shimmering, striped Alexander McQueen suit, bedecked with sparkly brooches. He was chatty and cheerful, and cranked out new tunes like "Going to a Town," "Release the Stars," "Tulsa" (which he commented was the most difficult song he'd ever written) and "Sans Souci." He served up a stunning version of his "The Art Teacher" from Want Two, and wrapped up the set with "Between My Legs" during which he was joined onstage by the fab Justin Bond ("Kiki" of Kiki & Herb awesomeness). Then came a 20-minute break.

More draggy pics and Rufus show dish after the jump!

First Rufus wore a shiny striped suit. Then came lederhosen. Then came the robe, from which out came the lipstick and jewels until...

Rufus returned to the stage decked out in lederhosen, a byproduct of time spent in Germany making "Release the Stars." He also dedicated a song to his German boyfriend, Jorn, who was in the house. More fun tunes proceeded, mostly new ones, but also an a capella Irish folk tune and a big, brassy band-backed version of "Beautiful Child" from Want One. The show wrapped up, but there was little doubt of an encore following.

For said encore, Rufus returned to the stage in a fluffy, white terrycloth robe, and took to the piano and served up more blisteringly poignant ballads, including the scorchingly personal "Dinner at Eight," which chronicles a bitter fight between Rufus and his musician father, Loudon Wainwright III. But as the encore neared its end, things got really fun.

Rufus' all-guy band had left the stage, so Rufus, still in his bathrobe sat at the front of stage, delved into a little bag and donned a big glittering ring, dazzling earrings, and he then whipped out a tube of jungle red lipstick and (very expertly) applied it to his kisser. Then came some stiletto heels. Following this, he strode to the back of the stage, back to the audience, and flanked by a tuxedo-clad band member (the guys were back onstage now), he doffed the robe, and perched a smart fedora on his noggin. Voila! Rufus was clad in full-on Judy Garland dragness!

Rufus and his band/chorus-boys, getting "Happy."

What followed was a completely frivolous, fun and full-on choreographed take (lip-synched to his own recording) on Garland's famous "Get Happy" number, complete with tux-clad dancing men flanking him throughout. For real! In fact, you can watch a version of the same number he recently did at London's Old Vic theatre. And just fyi: In hose and heels, Rufus has amazing legs!

Rufus does Judy! Heels, lipstick, dance moves and all!

The show wrapped with a luxe Rufus (still in drag) serving up his trademark, "Gay Messiah." All in all... A brilliant show (especially if you're a Rufus fan). Check out this current tour, and you'll be most pleased.

Comments

[alan.]

i love and adore this man.
he's a freakin genius.

both of the "want" albums contain some of his best tracks, yet.
"gay messiah, peach trees, waiting for a dream, the art teacher, want, memphis skyline, go or go ahead"...
they're so heart-wrenching and delicate and ethereal...
he always manages to bring me to tears.

and i can't believed he donned stockings and heels for the judy encore!...
i wish he'd done that for the carnegie hall show...
but i'm sure that would've put us all over the edge.