Movies

John Waters’ one-man show comes to the Wallis in Beverly Hills: ‘I’m so respectable, I could puke’

BBG News

This week, multi-talented artist John Waters – a filmmaker, actor, writer, and charming troublemaker – turned 79 years old. To mark this special occasion, he arranged a tour for his one-man show, “John Waters’ Birthday Celebration: Baring It All,” which will be at The Wallis in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

Before the grand event, a Baltimore native chatted with The Times about the evening’s offerings. To avoid spoiling his best acts, the discussion meandered to encompass various current issues: his stance on President Trump’s unsuccessful attempts to suppress drag shows; his emotional response to a TikTok video created by Elon Musk’s transgender daughter, Vivian, quoting lines from Waters’ 1972 black comedy, “Pink Flamingos”; and why Melania Trump’s White House Christmas decorations symbolized the epitome of poor taste.

Waters expressed a desire to be restricted once more,” he stated, regretting that his books were placed at the entrance instead of being shelved with the true crime novels near the restroom or the LGBTQ+ section at the back.

The latest show, “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, has solidified things for him, as stated.

He remarked, “I’ve become so esteemed, it feels nauseating.” He recalled, “I once felt elated when I was criticized by the Catholic Church. And I even built entire marketing campaigns around unfavorable reviews.

4 decades after being labeled “the Pope of Trash” by William S. Burroughs in 1986, John Waters is now finding a new legion of fans – a development that brings immense satisfaction to this self-styled “elder of filth.

Recently, Waters received a video showing 21-year-old Vivian Wilson, Elon Musk’s transgender daughter, mimicking dialogue from “Pink Flamingos” – a role made famous by Divine, a renowned drag queen who often starred in Waters’ movies.

My politics and my lifestyle are gritty and rough, as Wilson poses for the camera, tossing her hair over her shoulder and resting her hands on her hips.

Waters expressed his awe and emotion, saying, “That truly moved me.” He further reflected, “It’s incredible to think that something from over half a century ago has made such significant progress.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always admired John Waters for his audacious and unapologetic way of shining light on LGBTQ+ actors and narratives. His one-man shows embody this same spirit. The press release for his birthday show describes it as a treasure trove of transgressive, yet heartwarmingly inclusive stories that will resonate with the non-conforming spirits of folks everywhere.

Entertainment & Arts

Across the nation, museums were informed by the National Endowment for the Humanities that they would be experiencing significant budget cuts, affecting funds earlier promised to institutions like LACMA and the Japanese American National Museum.

As a movie enthusiast, I find myself reflecting upon the recent statement made during the Trump administration, which plans to acknowledge only two genders, male and female. This announcement coincides with their takeover of the esteemed John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, where they’ve vowed to put an end to performances that some perceive as aimed at our younger generation, particularly drag shows.

Waters, however, isn’t worried about the president’s attack on drag.

Waters stated that he doubts he can eliminate the influence of Drag, as it’s virtually unattainable. However, RuPaul has managed to make it socially acceptable across Middle America.

I must admit, it’s not surprising to me that some individuals have reservations about drag story time. When I learned that the Academy Museum was considering my movies for such events, my immediate thought was, “Have they lost their minds? My drag personas are designed to provoke adults, not provide comfort to children.

Throughout his career, many of Waters’ movies have successfully frightened grown-ups; however, youths, seeking rebellion and attracted to an artist who validated their more provocative inclinations, have consistently been drawn to Waters from the start.

Movies

In preparation for his final exhibition of movie props and memorabilia, we had a conversation with the renowned figure known as Baltimore’s “King of Kitsch.” This event will soon be showcased at the Academy Museum.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve got to sing praises about a film that truly made waves and remained unscathed by censorship, even with its bold themes – the iconic “Hairspray” from 1988. This gem was later transformed into a smashing Broadway musical in 2002.

Waters calls “Hairspray” a “Trojan horse.”

In the storyline, Tracy Turnblad, portrayed by Ricki Lake, does not recognize her mother’s identity as trans, according to Waters. This secret is shared only with the audience and the actors, who haven’t figured out how to address it in the narrative.

For Waters, humor serves as his most potent tool, and he handles it with a playful yet self-deprecating attitude, joking at his own expense before taking aim at others.

Humor is the strongest weapon in Waters’ arsenal, and he uses it with a lighthearted but good-natured twist, often making fun of himself before targeting someone else.

Waters stated that humor is universally effective – it can win arguments, provoke laughter, shift opinions, instill fear, and foster friendships. Interestingly, he finds himself joking at the expense of liberals the most, as he identifies with their ideologies.

According to Waters, he adores everything he playfully teases, “perhaps that’s the reason why I’ve never been truly unkind. And people often accept, even the wildest things I utter.

Also: He isn’t self-righteous, which he views as “the ultimate sin of political correctness.”

As I eagerly anticipate John Waters’ birthday show, I must make it clear that this event will be devoid of political correctness. Audiences are advised to be at least 18 years old for this performance. For the past five decades, this visionary filmmaker has been a diligent writer, faithfully taking his seat in his office each morning at 8 a.m., and it’s during these hours that he crafted his latest one-man script.

Entertainment & Arts

As a movie critic hailing from Altadena, I found myself in a bit of a pickle when Eliot Arts Magnet’s young thespians learned their spring musical, “Shrek Jr.”, had lost its stage. However, the kindness and generosity of Center Theatre Group and Pasadena Playhouse turned this frown upside down. Instead of performing at our original venue, these talented students were given a substitute stage that left me speechless – the grand 2,100-seat Ahmanson Theatre! A truly magical experience awaits them as they prepare to shine under its magnificent lights.

Inspiration has never been hard to come by.

In my perspective, life’s complexity never ceases to intrigue me. I find myself drawn to observing people, whether it’s casually or through overhearing conversations. I delve into a multitude of news sources daily, reading approximately twenty newspapers, and eagerly await the arrival of about a hundred magazines in my mailbox.

To me, human behavior is captivating. It baffles me when someone declares they’re bored. That statement seems utterly inconceivable to me.

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2025-04-23 13:33

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