Buddies in Bad Times gets ready to rock Fri, Nov 27 with a fundraiser for the popular queer theatre featuring the original anti-diva Carole Pope and alt-songbird Lily Frost.
Pope has had a remarkable career as a solo artist and a member of Rough Trade, winning Junos and Genies, writing a best-selling autobiography and recently appearing in the vampire film Suck. The Canadian rock legend will use the Buddies gig to debut her new song “God = Love.” It’s an unequivocal stand on equal rights with condemning lyrics like, “I’m so tired of this hypocrisy/ Don’t you dare call this democracy.”
We love Pope and she’s been featured in the pages of Xtra numerous times. Because we can never have enough of a good thing, this time out Pope kindly answered some totally random and at times ridiculous questions in order for us to learn a little more about the legend that is Carole Pope.
Xtra: What is your favourite thing about live theatre?
Carole Pope: The immediacy of it.
Xtra: What was the last great stage production you saw?
Pope: Anne Hathaway in Twelfth Night because she was dressed as a soldier. And Spring Awakening, it had it all: straight sex, gay sex, rape, a little incest and great songs.
Xtra: When are you happiest?
Pope: Performing and/or making love — the two things are interchangeable at times.
Xtra: If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Pope: Flight.
Xtra: What was the last good film you saw?
Pope: A Single Man.
Xtra: What would you like to know about the future?
Pope: What year New York’s going to be completely submerged underwater
Xtra: If Beyoncé thinks a diva is the female version of a hustler, then an anti-diva is…?
Pope: Patti Smith, Marianne Faithful and me.
Xtra: What is your life motto?
Pope: Fuck you if you don’t get me.
Xtra: What are three things you can’t live without?
Pope: Love, art and women.
Xtra: If Kanye interrupted you onstage, what would you do?
Pope: I would bitch slap him hard and tell him to take some time off to grieve for his mother.
Xtra: Where is your favourite place to be?
Pope: Europe.
Xtra: Who is the coolest person you know and why?
Pope: Björk but I don’t know her… so Michael Schmidt because he’s charming, talented and kind.
Xtra: Vampires, pirates or werewolves and why?
Pope: Vampires are sexy. I’m a big fan of True Blood especially the fang bangers.
Xtra: If you could write a how-to book, what would the subject of your book be?
Pope: How to survive in this unconscious unevolved society.
Xtra: Who would play you in a biopic and why?
Pope: Uma Thurman or Eva Green from Casino Royale. Just so I could watch her.
Xtra: What is your fondest memory so far?
Pope: Letting myself be completely open with someone.
Xtra: Why is independent community theatre important to you?
Pope: Artists are not afraid to take chances and put themselves out there without restrictions.
Xtra: Why should people come out to the Buddies In Bad Times fundraiser on Nov 27?
Pope: Because we’ve all had sex in the bathroom at Buddies and the show will be great.
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