Maggie at Rehearsal for a Cabaret Show

Maggie · Post by **Maggie** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:41 am

As I wrote a while ago, I was having mixed feelings about performing in drag in a cabaret show to be put on by my church's theater group as a fundraiser. After being postponed a few months, the show will now be going on next weekend for three performances. This past weekend I spent all of Saturday morning rehearsing in costume. Despite my initial ambivalence, once I became transformed into "Maggie," I really got into the spirit of the character and thoroughly enjoyed being a woman again. I stayed in character as Maggie the entire time.

A younger woman from church (with whom I have previously performed while in my male personam) found me to be totally convincing as a woman. Throughout the morning Maggie and she hung out together and conversed extensively, just as two women might.

An interesting phenomenon was that this woman related to Maggie as if Maggie were a real woman. She conversed with me in a way that she wouldn't have done with a man. The same thing had also occurred with another woman during rehearsal for Maggie's previous stage appearance. Both of these woman remarked on the strange reaction they were having to me. They both acknowledged that, although intellectually they knew I was a man, they could not help but to respond to me emotionally as if I were really a woman. It was as if I was being accepted into some kind of "sisterhood." (Sort of like what we saw in the movie, "Tootsie.") It was fun to see things from the other side for a change.

Below is a picture (which I have also uploaded to the Gallery) of Maggie taken during rehearsal. She will be performing a satirical monologue in which plays a middle-aged divorced woman who is looking for a rich husband.

http://members.aol.com/miscmg/maggie-cabaret2.jpg

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:47 am

Hi Maggie--
It's good to hear from you. I'm glad you're finding use for "Maggie's" talents and abilities.

What you're observing with the two women is something that I find common, too. People interacting with me cannot keep telling themselves, "This is only a man. This is only a man." They start reacting to the woman they see, and like a good actor, I don't break character.
I get to talk to women in ways I could never do as a man, and it's also true that I can talk to men in a way that'll never happen, as a man.

If a person is hostile to the whole idea, then they'll just walk away, or avoid me. But if they stick around to interact with me, they're going to start going along with the script that I'm playing out. It happens consistently, and makes life out in public a lot easier.
A

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:54 pm

Hi Miss Maggie!!!

Lookin' good!

Wish I could see the program. From what I read, the experience you have related is not unusual, but the total acceptance is nice.

I do hope you "break a leg" with the show!!

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:56 pm

Hi Maggie,

I saw your picture in the gallery first. I was happy to see you back and I'm happy to see you posted about what's going on.

At first when I read that women were treating you differently, I thought, "How can that be?", but then something you wrote beat my curious thoughts into submission. It was the way the ladies described it. They said they knew you were a man, but emotionally they responded to you as a woman. That is such a woman thing to say. It's very visual, emotionally compelling and real. So I went from,

to

.

First let me tell you I couldn't tell you were a male AT ALL. Your look is more than convincing. It's fabulously perfect. However I still am kind of going "Whoa" about that phenomenon (emotionally responding to you as a woman) That's super interesting and I never knew that happens or could happen.

Anita saying that it's something that's happened to her took an additional breath away. I most definitely learned something new today. I wonder if our SOs feel the same way or if it's just associates or strangers who do?

It's great to see you back here Maggie. I look forward to hearing about how the big event went!!!

Break a leg!!!

Beauty

Maggie · Post by **Maggie** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:57 am

However I still am kind of going "Whoa" about that phenomenon (emotionally responding to you as a woman) That's super interesting and I never knew that happens or could happen.

Anita saying that it's something that's happened to her took an additional breath away. I most definitely learned something new today. I wonder if our SOs feel the same way or if it's just associates or strangers who do?

I don't know about other people's significant others, but my own wife absolutely hates to see me in drag. Therefore, I do all my getting in and out of costume and rehearsing at the church, so she will not have to see Maggie except during the actual performance. The only times I have practiced at home is when she is out of town.

It has been fun getting back into my female persona, even if it will only be for a short time. Last night I had an extended rehearsal as Maggie which went fabulously. I also had an extended conversation with a woman who had not previously seen Maggie in person. She remarked that, compared to the photo I posted, Maggie was even more convincing in person. What a compliment!

Maggie · Post by **Maggie** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:39 pm

First let me tell you I couldn't tell you were a male AT ALL. Your look is more than convincing. It's fabulously perfect.

Thank you for the kind compliment.

However, it seems that someone has just gone through my pictures in the Gallery and rated all of them zero stars, which has robbed them of the five-star average ratings that they formerly had. Have I offended someone here, or am I being paranoid?

Anne · Post by **Anne** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:04 pm

Paranoid - I rated them very high.

Go get 'em, Anne

Kristen · Post by **Kristen** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:03 pm

Maggie, You are doing the two things I enjoy the most Dressing and Acting, Break a leg. You look better than most women I know, Very fem and very confident .. Go , Go , Go, have fun and keep us posted!!!! ........................Kristen

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:56 pm

Maggie,
Absolutely fabulous picture. I can see how women could relate to you, physically and as for the emotional level, that is something that most of us would aspire to. I think it is marvelous!
Virginia

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 4:04 am

Maggie wrote:I also had an extended conversation with a woman who had not previously seen Maggie in person. She remarked that, compared to the photo I posted, Maggie was even more convincing in person. What a compliment!

Hi again,

I've been told that my pictures don't capture how femme I look in real life, but it was kind of hard to believe until I read what you typed there. Interesting.

We've had someone who is anonymous and isn't being nice with their voting. Don't worry about that vote. It doesn't mean anything. You look great.

Beauty

Loretta Ann · Post by **Loretta Ann** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 7:51 am

However, it seems that someone has just gone through my pictures in the Gallery and rated all of them zero stars, which has robbed them of the five-star average ratings that they formerly had. Have I offended someone here, or am I being paranoid?

Someone is very jealous Maggie, not your problem hon. You do look as though there is no room for improvement. Very very nice.