Along with lots of laughter with the whole family, I got a legal tutorial from Judges Ed and Bill — much appreciated since my courtroom experiences have consisted, primarily, of being rejected whenever I am called for jury duty.
ANOTHER GREAT PARADE
Right up there with the Gaspee Days parade is the Pride Parade, the annual celebration of and by the GLBT community. This year it is the 35th annual celebration which, in recent years, has expanded into a month-long event.
In the early days, it was tough going for Pride. The organizers had to go to court to win the right to stage a parade. Early marchers were harassed. (I was spit on in one of those early years.) The courageous and relentless Pride pioneers built the parade one year at a time. I remember riding in a float that built for Rhode Island's leading "faux-mos" — me and fellow columnist Chip Young, aka Phillipe & Jorge.
According to GLBT news outlet EDGE, "Rhode Island Pride has grown into one of New England's largest Pride celebrations. Last year's parade drew thousands of people to the city." This year, the parade will take place this Saturday, June 18 and will feature Governor Linc Chafee, Mayor Angel Tavares, and former WPRI news anchor Karen Adams as grand marshals. And let's not forget the (self-proclaimed) First Lady of Providence, that big bountiful babe, Ms. Kitty Litter, who'll be marching in all her finery with the all the other drag divas. I guess this event won't be on Bishop Tobin's dance card — but it ought to be on yours.
THE WARM-UP GUY IS BACK!
Last month's performances at the Comedy Connection by Rhode Island native Bob Perlow in his one-man-show, The Warm-up Guy, were truly triumphant. The show's producer, Robert Sweet told me that, "We had two sold out shows last month and people were turned away. We wanted to accommodate those people who were unable to get in . . . ."
For all those people and the many others who have heard the positive buzz on this show, it's at the Comedy Connection, 39 Warren Avenue in East Providence, Thursday, June 23 at 8 pm. Get tickets at ricomedyconnection.com, 401.438.8383, or email info@thewarmupguy.com.
Perlow spent 15 years as the opening "warm-up comic" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also acted in, wrote, and did warm-ups for a slew of top sitcoms (Friends, Two and a Half Men, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Coach) over the years. Yes, this is a guy from Pawtucket who is considered the "gold standard" for comedy warm-up guys in Hollywood. I'll be there in my vintage Perlow shoes from the Bucket.
Send sweet nothngs and Pulitzer-grade tips to rudycheeks@live.com.
