Two Fierce Queens

Two Fierce Queens.  Once Fierce Interview. 

By Alexander Rodriguez

Coco Peru and RuPaul’s Drag Race fan favorite Eureka O’Hara join an all-star cast that includes John Waters’ divas Traci Lords and Mink Stole, other RuPaul girls Thorgy Thor and Chi Chi DeVayne, and adult film star fave Wesley Woods, for the Los Angeles production of WOMEN BEHIND BARS, a camp, parody play by Tom Eyen, Tony award-winning writer of Dreamgirls – playing at The Montalban, January 24 – February 2, 2020.  GED Magazine got the exclusive chat, in between rehearsals, with Coco and Eureka as they chat drag and coming out and reveal some personal reflections on the LGBT community.

MISS COCO PERU

How did you come up with your signature look?

In NYC, at the time I created Coco, drag was over the top and outrageous and I wanted to do the opposite of what others were doing and so, I thought for my look I would go with the “less is more” motif. Also, I had no idea how to style or take care of a wig and so the flip was an easy solution to having no skills when it came to hair. I also wanted a look that people would only associate with me.

Do you remember your first public performance as Coco?

It was so long ago that I only remember bits of it. I remember being terrified. I remember going blank. I remember my parents sitting in the front because they were afraid people would throw tomatoes at me because I was talking about being gay openly at a time when that was still not popular. I also remember feeling like I had created something new and people were going to come now that she was built.

What is your coming out story?

I had gone to my first gay pride parade in NYC where I felt so alive and free and as I rode the train back to the Bronx, I realized that as I got closer to home the walls started going back up and it dawned on me – how I felt at that parade was supposed to be how I felt all of the time. It was my right! I made the decision to come out to my family on the No. 6 train back to the Bronx. Since there was no Internet back then and no easily accessible role models, I went to a gay bookstore and I bought a book called “COMING OUT TO YOUR PARENTS.” I read it and did the exercises and prepared my whole coming out. When I finally did come out, my family was wonderful and supportive.

You were doing drag in mainstream media way before our current bubble of drag popularity in entertainment.  How has the idea of drag in the media changed the most since you started?  What are the current queens in the media doing right?  What are they doing wrong?

Although I did have success early on in my career, drag was still something that was mostly underground, and the audiences were LGBT people and the straight people who supported us. Now drag is totally mainstream. I think the queens that get it right are the ones who are working on their craft, who want to learn and improve and succeed. I would say the ones who get it wrong are the ones who are lazy and think that by being on TV that it is enough, although, sadly, there is some truth to that. Just being on TV is enough for some of the fans nowadays.

You have had the absolute privilege to work and become friends with some of the major celebrity idols that you looked up to.  Is there any part of you that still gets star-struck?

Of course! But I am more star-struck by the people who influenced my childhood. Bea Arthur, Lily Tomlin, and Liza!  

What is one of your favorite celebrity meetings?  Least favorite?

When I first met Bea Arthur it was truly one of those out of body moments for me because I was obsessed with her as a kid. I studied her! She was always so kind and generous and real with me and she taught me new things as I got to know her. I respected her truth and honesty, and how humble she could be. I loved that she loved the LGBT community. She always felt like she didn’t fit in and I think she felt safe with us and she could feel our love. I think she was in awe of that tremendous love that we gave her.  I really don’t have a least favorite. Honestly! 

What is your creative process when putting together a new one-person show?

Despite all my fears, I sit down in front of a blank screen and I just start writing. It is not an easy process for me, but I force myself to do it. It’s the only way to get things done.

How have your audiences changed the most over the years?

I now have teenage girls and their moms at my show.

You have been married a LONG time – what are the keys to success for a long-lasting relationship?

My husband is a kind person and we both respect each other and always want the other to succeed. When he is proud of me, that is the best gift.

How are you most different from Coco Peru the persona?

I feel a little more evolved as Coco. It’s as though through her eyes I can deal a little bit better with the world; whereas as myself, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the world, both its small and big events. I imagine that my good friends would say that there is no difference and that I’m a big c*nt either way.

I’m SO excited for Women Behind Bars – what an all-star cast!  What made you say yes and do this project?

I’m friends with Christopher Graham aka Poppy Fields and he is a perfectionist. I also knew he had previously worked with the director, Scott Thompson, who is equally professional. I knew I would be in good hands. And, being on the road and doing solo shows can often get exhausting and lonely, so this show offered me the opportunity to play with other talented people right here in my own city.

You are a trained actor, having studied at Adelphi U.  Creatively, how do you merge your Coco persona with a character that you have to play onstage?

I think the important thing for me to do as an actor is to not overthink it too much. I’ve done Coco for so many years and you just add another layer onto it playing this other character. I learned when filming Girls Will Be Girls that although that character was not like me, just playing it honestly was best.

You play Louise, who is constantly bothered by everything. What are YOU most bothered by?

Litter. Bulk garbage. Rude people. Really, the easier question would have been, “What are you NOT bothered by?”

EUREKA O’HARA

Where were you when you found out that you had been cast on RuPaul’s Drag Race?

I was at home in my Government apartment, to be honest, wondering how I was going to pay bills and buy this wig I really wanted. Signing up for classes for the new semester at ETSU.

What was it like growing up gay in Tennessee?  

East TN can be a lot less open-minded. Growing up I was the sissy boy (that was bullied), but I had sisters that beat people up for me. [laughs]. I didn’t come out officially until my senior year, when I lost my best friend and was convinced to stop going to church. I just fell into a nightlife because of it.

You had a very close relationship with your Mom that you shared with the public.  I can’t even imagine what it was like losing her.  There is a lot of grief in our community, whether involving loved ones we’ve lost or ones we grieve for that are still with us.  What advice can you give someone from our community in dealing with grief?

I honestly don’t know. No one can tell you how to grieve, I think we all do it in different ways, but you have to allow yourself to grieve and process it. Turn to people in your life that love you and just talk about it. It’s only been 6 months and I miss her more than I ever thought I could miss someone. Honestly, I wish I knew the right answer.

Is it hard to make real friendships/maintain relationships with your status in the entertainment industry?

No, I think you must be more selective. Also, I just think everyone should be careful no matter what job you have. If you’re living life you’re busy and you can only invest time into so many people without overextending yourself. Quality, not Quantity. At the same time, I Know No Stranger.

What is one RuPaul challenge you wish you could go back and redo?  What would you have done differently?

Cher-Rusical, because I let an emotional moment from my past doubt my ability. I love to sing and I enjoy it. I would have loved to have sucked up my fear at the moment and really turned it for Cher and the world. Rockstar Fantasy!

Spill the tea girl, what is one gossipy thing about the behind the scenes of RuPaul that we didn’t get to see?

Orange Alert was a runway that we were potentially going do on Season 10 but didn’t, so we all had orange looks we didn’t use, except Asia who used hers for the Twin Styling challenge. Then they ended up doing that Runway on season 11.

You have been a, pardon the pun, big spokesperson for body positivity and self-confidence.  Has body acceptance really changed in the LGBTQ community or is it just a phase?

It’s not changed completely, it has a long way to go. Lizzo is helping a lot, I believe, in the idea to just accept yourself and others will follow your lead. People don’t like “different” or “conventionally sexually unattractive”, but we are changing the image of attraction. So I believe there is hope.

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing drag?

I studied Radio TV and Film, so I’d hopefully still be working in TV or Film. Or I always wanted to be a Science Teacher.

What is a challenge that you would add to RuPaul’s Drag Race?

I miss the Puppet Challenge (The Challenge were you dress puppets up as fellow contestants while mimicking them). They recently did it on Drag Race UK and I was like, I wish we did that on Season 10.

You did a makeover on Zachary Quinto.  Did he mention me at all?  Did you fall in love?

I love my Daughter Noa Fence. What a dream to work with. I mean he is truly a gem.

It takes courage to release your own music, especially since the RuPaul fan world can be chatty in a negative way.  What inspired you to cross that line and go solo?

For fun. Why not? I love music and performing and making art. I do my music how my character Eureka would. That’s what makes it different.

What do your fans tell you the most?

Proportionizing, I love you too, and girl those pants are a lil tight we can see your…..  muffin top (dirty minds) lol!

So excited for Women Behind Bars!  Has doing theater been a part of your life?

I love theater and I have more respect for it than any other form of acting. It’s live, so it’s hard. It takes discipline and practice. I studied theater at first and realized quickly I didn’t have the drive for it like I did for TV. However, it’s so amazing to get to be a part of theatre as an actor. It truly tests you and makes you grow as an artist.

You play the Matron – what is one thing in life you were most in charge of?

My self-deprecation, I am better at being mean to myself than anyone else. But eventually, I took charge and changed that narrative and somehow convinced myself I was one of the fiercest Big Girl Drag Entertainers in the world and all it took to be just that, it was convincing myself.

How are you approaching the character creatively?

Great question. I am the representation of exploited misogyny. The story is about the corruption of innocence by society or outside forces convincing them they are what society paints them to be, and I remind them of that every day. Each character represents a type of stereotypical female in society and makes a farce of it. My job is to make the prisoners doubt themselves and believe the image they have been given. Now through this, the power behind it is power, greed, sex, corruption and female disempowerment that ultimately gets exploited by how firm people can stand together against a common enemy. Even through all my evil, there are weak moments of fear, which show a sense of innocence and humility. So ultimately, I’m going to channel the pain we go through as humans that make us bitter, abuse power and ultimately destroy us if we let it. Sadly, in the end, the most powerful character and most evil may just end up being a self-inflicted victim. But I’ll NEVER let those Sons of Bitchen Losers Know it!!

Tickets for Women Behind Bars can be purchased at https://www.themontalban.com/womenbehindbars