Beneva’s bingo gets a new 'Player'

“Beneva Fruitville,” Sarasota’s leading lady of Drag Queen Bingo, has some new digs. 

Beginning Oct. 5, the self-proclaimed “Hostess with the Mostess” and her entourage will host the Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza on Friday nights at The Players Theatre, Sarasota’s 83-year old community theater.

Combining elements of the famous parlor game with over-the-top LGBT production values, the Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza will continue its run through the entire 2012-2013 Players season. The official announcement came Tuesday morning during a flamboyant press event that took place on The Players Theatre main stage --- the setting for the season opening production of Applause, directed by Beneva’s male alter ego, Berry Ayers.

The Players announcement comes on the heels of the recent closing of The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, which forced Beneva and her fellow DQBB cast members Lindsay Carlton (played by Greyling Johnson) and Tamiami Trails (played by Eric Berkel) to seek out a new Sarasota venue for their performances.

Dressed in a vivacious sparkly blue dress, Beneva Fruitville strutted onto The Players’ stage with chest out and head held high, joined at the podium by Players Artist Director Jeffery Kin and Managing Director Michelle Bianchi Pingel.

Friends and media members were seated on stage, giving the festive proceedings an added element of panache. Off to stage right, Drag Queen Bingo team member Eartha Quake and an unnamed woman who described herself as “Beneva’s designated stalker" held handwritten signs expressing their love and support.

“It’s not often we have groundbreaking world events that happen here on The Players stage,” Kin said, before introducing Beneva and presenting her with the ceremonial key to the theater.   

After the obligatory ribbon cutting, Beneva addressed her “dear friends, colleagues, fans, stalkers, the cute waiter from last night, Swedish massage therapists, other friends, Romans and countrymen ...”

When asked if The Players Theatre would be making special accommodations for a celebrity of her stature, Beneva joked, “They’ve already starting building my dressing room next door …” As for the source of her creative inspiration, Beneva credited her muse “Baby Jesus.”

Describing Drag Queen Bingo for the uninitiated in the crowd (including this reporter), Beneva explained that the interactive production consists of “a fun night of bingo games, production numbers, drag queens and a lot of alcohol.”

While discussing the creative advantages offered by the new venue, Beneva said, “What’s great about working on this stage is we can open our game up and become more theatrical, which is something I’ve always wanted to do anyway,  making it more of a show.

“We’re able to use the entire space; we have full stage lighting here and access to costumes, which I plan to be using a lot of. It’s just a fun, friendly and very welcoming environment here … I’m all a-Twitter with my Google.”

The revamped show will also include themed theatrical elements and surprise special guests. Bingo-playing audience members will be seated by general admission in the theater seats, using cruise ship style punch-out bingo cards that eliminate the need for ink markers.

During Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza performances, a second service bar will be open in the side lobby to provide more efficient drink service. There are also rumors of topless males and titillatingly-clad females being on hand to serve Jello shots and other high-octane libations, continuing a tradition carried over from The Golden Apple.

Some of the previously scheduled Friday evening Players productions will be rescheduled to make room for Drag Queen Bingo. Affected season ticket-holders will be contacted and given priority rescheduling options.

There’s a $5 cover for Drag Queen Bingo shows, and make sure you bring your ID.

The Players Theatre will be the exclusive Sarasota home to Drag Queen Bingo. Out-of-town performances will continue at venues in Bradenton, Venice and Englewood, with more to come. 

 
The Man Beneath the Dress

 After Tuesday’s press conference, the engaging Ms. Fruitville sat down to discuss “her” dual personality and her path to success. 

Beneva fell into her role as bingo hostess in 2008, when a friend asked her to host Drag Queen Bingo after the then-controversial production moved from its original home at the Canvas Café in Towles Court --- a move necessitated by noise complaints from neighbors and the fact that the outdoor venue did not have a bingo license.

Drag Queen Bingo was then performed at The Alley Bar and at Horsefeathers before taking up residency at The Golden Apple.

Elaborating on her press conference description of the performances, Beneva said, “Drag Queen Bingo basically is crazy games of bingo, led by men in dresses … and it’s a crazy fun night."

Beneva said most of the Drag Queen Bingo crowd is “straight” and the show appeals in particular to young professional women, supplemented by fun-loving males, senior citizens and a smattering of serious bingo players.

When asked what she hopes folks take from a DQB performance, Beneva said, “Laughter … and a good time.”

When Beneva Fruitville steps out of the fancy dresses, glamorous makeup and fake boobs, he resumes life as Berry Ayers: actor, director, singer, dancer and newly-named production manager and musical director for The Players Theatre.

“I honesty never thought I’d be doing drag,” Ayers explained. “It’s just something I fell into as an actor. I’ve been acting professionally since I was 14 and drag just came out of that. It’s certainly allowed me to make a name for myself in this community.”

When asked about the differences between Berry and Beneva, he said, “As Berry I’m a little low-key and kind of shy. Beneva allows me to be much more confident, louder, saying whatever’s on my mind … it opens up a side of my personality I don’t always get to show.”   

Ayers' new gig at The Players is similar to his previous job at The Golden Apple. He will make his directorial debut with Applause, opening Thursday, Sept. 20 and continuing through Sunday, Sept. 30.

 Applause is a 1970s Broadway interpretation of the 1950 film All About Eve starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter and a relatively unknown actress named Marilyn Monroe. The storyline revolves around an aspiring actress that works her way into a circle of influence that includes Broadway stars, writers and directors. The film is famous for the Bette Davis line: “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going be a bumpy night.” Lauren Bacall played the Bette Davis role in the original Broadway production. 

As for what’s next for Beneva Fruitville, she said, “I want my own TV show … I’m working on that.” You can follow her exploits at the Beneva Fruitville website. 

Drag Queen Bingo debuts at the Players on Friday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. The Players Theatre is located at 838 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The box office number is 941-365-2494. You can also visit The Players online.