Two years ago, every Dirty Dancing and Action Jackson thespian hunk in America threw caution to the wind and "sashayed and parlayed" in full drag onto the Universal lot for a crack at a starring role in the Steven Spielberg-produced film with the very long and strange title --"To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar." So fierce was the competition for a chance to prance in size 15 pumps, that not one of the pumped-up candidates batted a Maybelline lash at Wong Foo's even stranger storyline (three New York drag queens head to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune but must survive the wilds of Nebraska when their car breaks down en route).
Patrick Swayze beat out the likes of Gary Oldman and
pretty boy Matt Dillon for the gender-bending role of Vida and action hero
Wesley
Snipes was chosen to play Noxeema over hundreds of others (including
dragmeister
RuPaul who does appear in the film). But the role of Chi Chi was won by the
relatively unknown John Leguizamo (pronouced Leg-way-zamo). Suffice it to say
the
Colombian-born actor had a leg up on the competition.
Back in 1991, Leguizamo wrote and performed his Obie Award-winning one-man show, "Mambo Mouth" showcasing a montage of seven Latino street characters--the stellar standout of which was the over-the-top transsexual prostitute, "Manny the Fanny." Hot on the heels of "Mambo's" success, Leguizamo staged his second Off-Broadway one-man show, "Spic-O-Rama"-- introducing us to Gladyz Gigante, a dysfunctional Latin Mom whose idea of concocting "smoked chicken" consists of munching on chicken breast while chain-smoking Marlboro cigarettes! Subsequently, both of the shows were aired on HBO -- receiving more critical acclaim and adding colorful chapters to Leguizamo herstory.
On this particular some-like-it-hot July night of Wong Foo's four-month shoot, Leguizamo is the ever-so-tacky Chi Chi. Decked out in five-inch bubblegum pink pumps and an even pinker Satin strapless dress, the Latina spitfire is trading quips with an even tackier looking Noxeema (Wesley in tye-dye hot pants, an Auburn bob and snakeskin boots), between takes in a restaurant scene where the trio have come to celebrate. Both Vida (Swayze's drag brings to mind the Duchess of Windsor look) and Noxeema have just won the Drag Queen of the Year Contest. "God, Wesley, don't pull my hair so hard - this isn't an action movie!" Leguizamo screeches to guffaws from the crew. Hundreds of dolled-up, real-life New York drag queens, assorted fabulous divas (including myself--opting for the surefire low-cut Leopard look) and supermodel Naomi Campbell are adorning the tacky Jersey City restaurant tables. The all-night shoot wraps at 10:00 the following morning and Leguizamo's Chi Chi is a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
