Feature Friday - Prudence
Name
Prudence
Pronouns
Out of Drag (They/Them), In Drag (She/Her)
Bio
Drag Bio: “ Everyone’s favourite Semi-Talented, Failed Actress, Prudence is like a rash that just doesn’t go away. Winner of the 2015 Cabaret Mado competition: Drag Moi, she soared to the heights of mediocrity, overlooked and underpaid. She can serve you Camp, Drama and an incredible Ham Sandwich if you ask nicely, and she won’t even charge you…much! She’ll make you laugh, cry and probably need a therapist! Everything’s Coming Up Prudence! 💖”
Person bio: My name is Nico , I am a 37 year old drag and makeup artist that have been a working drag artist for 10 years under the name of "Prudence". Before drag I studied Theatre Desgin and Fashion Design with the concentration in Costumes and Props becaause I loved delving into the idea of Character design. Working with some local theatre companies as a designer I ventured into makeup as Drag was becoming much more important in my life. from there I worked with a number of makeup brands like Mac Cosmetics, Nars and am now a Makeup Specialist with the Cirque du Soleil, having worked just recently on the annual holiday project "Twas the Night Before" which is a Holiday show that tours the US.
On the Drag side of things I started my career competing in Drag Moi competition gaining noteriety for being a campy, theatrical and having excellent lip synching skills. After nine weeks I won the competition. From there I have spent 10 years building and evolving my character into one that is well-rounded, creative and always looking to make an audience feel something. I make a lot of my own looks, have performed on the main stage on Montreal Pride a number of times and is one performer from my generation of drag that is still going strong after 10 years. This artform has allowed me to really branch out into creative spaces that I never have dreamed about. It has allowed me to travel to international locations like Paris and Vermont to perform and keeps surprising me with the oppurtunities that I have gotten that I am eternally grateful for.
Instagram
@prudenomore
Where in Montreal are you located?
I am located in the East End of Montreal (Tetrauville).
What do you love about that neighborhood?
I love my neighbourhood because it's quiet and residential. I love being able to walk around my area and feel home, it is the area I grew up in and know super well.
What’s your favourite art space in Montreal and why?
In all honesty my favourite Art Space in Montreal is where I work, the Cirque du Soleil IHQ. I have never worked in an environment that has so much going on. From live performances, to makeup studios, costume and props workshops, I am always amazed by exploring different areas of the building and discovering different artists at work. The most recent project I worked on has 107 artists from around the world all located in Montreal to train, rehearse and learn about the show they were all embarking on. So we transformed an entire abandoned floor of the building into a working makeup studio where the artists would come and we (the makeup artists) would teach them how to achieve their looks. What was exciting as, as we moved into the staging process the stages of the show were built in empty studio spaces in order to also run the individual acts of the show which included aerial straps, hoop diving and hair suspension. I am always amazed by this workspace because everyone is willing and ready to transform any space in the building to make the show happen and is embodiment of the saying "The Show Must Go On".
What do you do on stage? Tell us about your work!
I am a Drag artist. I create a character and a moment that transports an audience on a journey through the story I wish to tell. I am an actress, seamstress, makeup artist, and insane person, who just loves to entertain. I always say that my drag is a moment in time. It's a snippet of life that is meant to give an audience a brief glimpse in the life of the person that I am creating on stage and allowing you to feel something pertaining to their existence. Emotion plays a lot in my drag as everything I do has some sort of attachment to my life, to my past, present and where I wish to go. It's not always joyful, but it is always filled with hope. As an actual performance my drag is theatrical, I am always acting, and as I like to say, moving around the stage dramatically. I love lipsynching, and utilize a lot of spoken words moments in my performance as I love to create narratives in my performances.
What have you been working on recently?
Recently I have been working on a number for a show with my friend's production company Eye of Horus Productions, which is KPop Demon Hunters themed. My number uses the song “Soda Pop” to basically transport the audience into the world of vintage Soda Pop commercials using spoken word clips of those advertisements. My look that I'm working on is a Mod 60s variation of Baby Saja's look from the movie that is super colourful and campy that I have sewn myself. Every show for me is a chance to create something new, shock an audience and just be completely off the wall. I love turning themes on its head and making it Stupid in the way only I know how and this is not an exception.
What drew you to the stage?
Old Hollywood. My grandmother growing up encouraged me to seek out the films of the stars of the past, Films by the likes of Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, and Barbara Streisand, were some of her favourites, and allowed me to see a world where I wanted to be these strong glamorous women. I had dreams of winning Oscars, and being a featured actor in some amazing films. This let me to theatre which led me to Drag and the rest is history.
Who are some of your favourite stage performers?
Well my drag inspirations in terms of well known stars would have to be Jinkx Monsoon, Ben De La Creme, and Monet X Change. Their way of looking at the world through a theatrical and hilarious lens has always inspired me and they are some of the best in the game. In local drag talent, performers like Kitana Sweet (my drag mother), Marla Deer, Crystal Slippers allowed me to see Drag in a very theatrical lens and inspired me to be different than the mainstream 5, 6, 7, 8 girls, which I am not. Getting to perform with local legend Crystal Slippers' production Crystal Palace allowed me to really flex that theatre muscle and every show I was booked pushed me to discover a little more what I loved about performing. I also got to perform one of my favourite duets “Happy Days”/”Get Happy”, the Judy Garland/Barbara Streisand duet with her, which honestly still remains one of my favourite performances ever. Her shows also introduced me to Montreal comedy legend Tranna Wintour who also inspired me with her wit, honesty and hilarious point of view.
Tell us about your BEST or WORST performance.
ONE of my best numbers was one I performed for the Vermont Burlesque Festival, which is the epitome of my Drag. Its from the musical Gypsy, and it's the song “Rose's Turn”, that describes our protagonist Rose who has made the realization that after all these years of supporting her children, husband and friends that she has been left alone (due to also her poor behaviour), and her take away is her thinking that if she would have invested in herself she would have been the star that her child Gypsy Rose Lee would have been. Its big, broad, and filled with emotion and takes the performer and audience on a journey of despair, disillusionment, loss, anger, and hope. I feel deeply connected to this number, and every time I do it I feel a sense of catharsis. My worst was a number I did during Drag Moi which was Spice Girl's “Stop”. At that point I was so new that I lacked vision, and got lost in a truly complex idea that didn't go anywhere. I felt ugly, untalented, and lost. That taught me that sometimes the simpler ideas are probably best, and that not every performance is going to work.
What’s your favorite Montreal stage and why?
I'd have to say for my type of performance my favourtie stage is the Wiggle Room. It is a truly beautiful space with an old Hollywood/Vaudeville look that fits my aesthetic. The stage is intimate and calm, and I feel at home in the space when I perform there.
