Deep Dish: Starship

Sat, June 29 @ Kool Haus

“Fag! You’re it!” Outing homos? No, silly, we’re playing a game of tag at this year’s Prism Matinee Starship main event. It’s the perfect spot. Lots of room to run around in The Guvernment, decorated only with eye-popping lighting effects, which shoot out and illuminate the half-naked crowd, turning them into Tron porn. Cutting through our playground is a large round stage that seems designed solely for the vanity of those who scramble up on it, eager to show off their pretty, plump packages and hump guys with brand-new gym bodies. But around 1am the platform empties and becomes centre stage for singer Vanessa Klein, who wows us with her vocals. Who is that? Adele? No, it’s Vanessa, who channels her voice so well we take a break from our game to marvel. Her energy continues as the main stage is overtaken by teams of dancers in hot red-and-black leather futuristic motorcycle gear, then huge white feathers, then skimpy silver shorts and glow-in-the-dark armbands, who surround DJs Micky Friedmann, Phil Romano and Ivan Gomez. And though I wasn’t feeling the Taylor Swift remix, I was appreciative of the Salt-n-Pepa throwback. As the night continues, our little game of tag becomes a frenzied game of gag. Is there really a lineup to get slutty on the stage?

Check out the slideshow at the top of the story for more photos!

Rolyn Chambers is a graphic designer and freelance writer. His first book, The Boy Who Brought Down a Bathhouse, was published in 2017.

Read More About:
Culture, Opinion, Toronto, Nightlife

Keep Reading

The cast of All Stars 11

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11’ is a second chance for the bracket format. Will it work this time around?

Early enthusiasm for the Tournament of All Stars last season was dampened by the back half of the season, raising the question of whether this format is viable in the long term
A flaming torch

‘Survivor’ helped me climb a volcano

Instead of training for a gruelling day-long hike, I listened to podcasts about my favourite TV show. It paid off
Michaela Coel and Anne Hathaway

‘Mother Mary’ nails how devastating a first lesbian breakup can be

In A24’s new pop star drama, Anne Hathaway captures the physicality of a tormented ex-lover aching for answers—and deliverance
The cover of Afternoon Hours of a Hermit; Patrick Cottrell

In ‘Afternoon Hours of a Hermit,’ Patrick Cottrell writes a protagonist who does everything wrong—again

The pseudo-sequel to Cottrell’s acclaimed first novel brilliantly retraces old ground
Advertisement