“I was wondering,” Dana said. “What a fucking relief.” Vicky snorted. “I mean, your child is an adorable child. But you know.”
“Oh, I know.” The household’s efforts to manage profanity had become legendary.
“So I’ve had this feeling that Mein Herr was kind of a big dealio,” Rory said after dinner.
“Maybe it’s because it’s a step away from tango,” Sharon said. “Andy said he was going to make a break for it with dancing for a while.”
Dana nodded. “When we were talking last fall he was like, why not, you know. He’s not too old for it.”
Vicky made a pfft sound. “He kicked all of our asses on that movie. The only one who could really keep up with him was Tomás.”
“You did pretty damn good,” Rory said. “That thing at the premiere was hot as snot.”
“Also, Andy never made a final at the Gay Games.” Sharon preened a little.
“Or threw a 540,” Vicky said, grinning, referring to the big ballet jump she’d mastered for a show a few years back.
“Or got voted Best Stripper in L.A. two years running,” added Rory. “I mean, while we’re puffing ourselves up.”
“You guys really are bitches,” Dana said. “I’m going to tell him you’re dogging him out.” She waited for them to stop snickering. “You know what Tanith said?”
Rory topped up their wineglasses. “What.”
“She said she was kind of kicking herself for selling the movie so fast.
Letting them release it at the end of the year. She said, if I had waited, those guys could have been up for some awards.”
Vicky made a sound of disagreement. “They didn’t care about that. And it kept the momentum up for all of us.” The movie was filmed in July and released in December – a tight schedule, but emotionally satisfying for the
cast, especially after Victor got shot.
“Oh, I know. I told her what Andy told me, which was that he was glad.
And that he asked Raquel not to even query him about other TV or film projects. He’s willing to look at stage stuff, but he was like nope nope nope with everything else.”
“What did she say?” Rory hadn’t heard this before. “When was this?”
“Oh, like last week. She pinged me about something.” Dana swallowed some wine. “Anyway I told her he was up for anything with her and especially if Victor was involved, but everyone else could go fuck themselves.” She smiled at her wife. “She said oh okay. Once they’re back from tour, he’s going to want you in the studio.”
“I’m busy,” Rory said crossly. “Tomás is working me and Ricky over with the thing for next month.”
Dana gave her a look. “You’re going to have plenty of time between that and the June show.”
“Rodeo,” Vicky said, grinning at the Underground Cabaret’s June theme.
“I have to confess, I’m expecting Tomás to throw me something completely batshit crazy for that. Did you know he’s working on an album with that Janis chick? Two pianos and cello, tango versions of standards. He was like, you know what, this is cool. The Argentine version of that.” The conversation took a detour for a while. Then it was coffee and dessert, and eventually they all decided to transfer to the living area.
Sharon opened YouTube on the big screen. “I don’t know why it took us so long to do this. Now we can watch the Cabaret channel on here, Andy’s stuff, the DanceSport stuff. It’s so much better than watching on the laptop.
One stupid little cable.” Vicky was snickering.
Rory and Dana had the same setup at home. Rory said, “When you do your thing in Buenos Aires, will that be on Andy’s channel?”
“No doubt,” Vicky said. “All three of those guys are so psyched. Tanith was a little worried, like ugh, we have to find two local guys to fill out the six-way, but Tomás did that thing he does, you know.” She frowned.
Everybody else laughed. “And she said yeah I probably don’t have to worry about you finding two good Argentine tango guys in Buenos Aires, do I.”
The video was cued up. “Here we go.”
It started with an almost-black screen. There was some commotion from
the live audience as the curtain went up. Then a spotlight faded in on Andy, posed downstage center in that showstopping copy of Liza Minnelli’s costume. “Oh my fuck,” Rory said gleefully. The crowd was going wild before he even moved.
“Those fucking legs,” said Sharon. “God, why could I not be six feet tall.” Vicky leaned in, buried her face in her wife’s hair, and said something.
Sharon laughed.
The first verse was a solo for Andy, and not much like Liza’s choreography. It was flirty, dirty, jazzy, and hilarious. The crowd never stopped laughing, whistling, and cheering. “How did he even hear the music?!” Vicky turned up the sound; it didn’t help.
Victor – onstage but seated, straddling a cabaret chair upstage - stood on
‘when I’m through’ and walked up behind Andy, taking his hand on ‘Toodle-oo.’ When the first chorus started, they began to move in shadow position. It was a blend of tango and jazz and burlesque. “He’s singing along, isn’t he,”
Dana said, smiling. “Oh my God he’s having fun.”
“Look at Victor.” Sharon was grinning too. “He’s all, I don’t care how tall you are, baby, I’ve got you. Hee hee!”
“He’s good.” Dana wasn’t surprised. Andy and Victor had done a few memorable performances together in the past. Victor had great stage presence, and he picked up choreography well. But this one was definitely a showcase for Andy. In the fast final chorus the routine turned into a frenzy of tango and Charleston. As it wound up Victor was playing a literally supporting role while Andy did a series of tricks. Their ending position had Victor standing at center stage, legs apart, with Andy in a full split on the stage in front of him. The camera operator held on that for a couple of seconds, panned to show the audience on its feet, then returned to
