For his upcoming role, Lord Russ (aka Russell Brooks) has to shave his entire body. Although he's not baring the full monty, Valley musician Brooks will be more scantily clad than normal in his upcoming one-man show Queen Elvis—The Musical. Set in 1973, the Rocky Horror Picture Show-style musical offers an alternative version of the life of Elvis Presley. Instead of following the path of self-destruction that ultimately ended his life, the show asks what might have happened if the drug-addled rock star had, after much soul-searching, discovered that he had a penchant for cross-dressing.
"This show is a mirror of my life," said Brooks in a recent interview with the Advocate. "Elvis was really insane and had such a dysfunctional life& This musical shows Elvis being optimistic about life instead of going on the death path."
A veteran of the Valley music scene, Brooks is a member of popular local band Aloha Steamtrain and counts the Beatles, David Bowie, Roxy Music and Moody Blues as his major influences. Brooks has also performed as numerous characters, including Ed Sullivan and Elvis. For years, the glam rocker has been donning flashy polyester suits and prancing across the stage crooning Elvis tunes with style and panache—not to mention a rock-solid tenor.
"I love Elvis," said Brooks in a recent interview with the Advocate. "I decided years ago that if I didn't make it with my own music, I'd go to Vegas and be an Elvis impersonator."
Cross-dressing is nothing new to Brooks either. For years, he has experimented with wearing women's clothing, both on and off the stage.
"I feel sexy wearing women's clothes," said Brooks. "I love women, and I feel closer to them when I'm wearing their clothes… In this show I'm just combining two things I love."
Brooks, a handsome man whose lankiness makes him appear taller than he is, has always known he was different than most. He suffered from delusions of grandeur at an early age.
"When I was 13, I had a vision," said Brooks. "I think I must have been King Arthur in another life& I just started having these visions—I thought I saw the Holy Grail. So I thought I should just settle for being Lord Russ, instead of a king."
Brooks, much like famous cross-dresser and comedian Eddie Izzard, is dispelling preconceived notions of cross-dressers. Historically, most male cross-dressers have been gay or bisexual—donning lacy lingerie doesn't exactly fit in with Western notions of masculinity. Yet Brooks (like Izzard) is a virile straight man who is extremely comfortable with his sexuality and identifies as a transvestite, while maintaining he is not gay.
"I tried it," said Brooks. "It just doesn't do it for me."
With Queen Elvis, Brooks is hoping to further challenge stereotypes about masculinity, femininity and cross-dressing. The musical features early '70s Vegas-style Elvis songs as well as original compositions by Brooks.
Queen Elvis, as its name might suggest, is full of humor. Brooks engages in comic diatribes between "stage" Elvis and "inner" Elvis. The character is trying to reconcile his innermost desires with his universal notoriety as a male sex symbol.
After this weekend's exclusive premiere, presented as part of Northampton's Pride Day, Brooks hopes to take his show on the road, using Queen Elvis as a springboard for generating interest in his original music, which he performs as Lord Russ."
Lord Russ presents Queen Elvis: The Musical May 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. at 25 Main St., Northampton (the Fitzwilly's building), fourth floor. Tickets are $12. Log on to www.myspace.com/queenelvisthemusical for more information.
