Dressed in Drag

By: Jessica Williams

Every Halloween, Daniel Altenburg, a third semester Vanier student studying Pure and Applied Sciences, puts on his fishnet stockings, applies a little rouge to his cheeks and finally puts on his vibrant red go-go stiletto boots to strut his stuff at the one event he can feel like his true self; the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

On Halloween night, the Impérial Cinéma hosts the production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show where hundreds of Montrealers come to experience one of the most talked about and loved performances. Altenburg seizes this event to get in touch with his effeminate side dressing as a character he calls Kelli-Lyn Koch. 

“It’s the one time I can let my closeted homosexuality loose and reconnect with the emotions I supress for 12 months,” explains Altenburg, “Nothing makes me have more confidence than walking down the street in my red boots.”

Altenburg has a process of getting ready for the show which he describes to be almost “ritualistic”. He begins his night by lifting weights while listening to the 80’s cold-wave band Marquis de Sade. He then carefully selects his outfit trying on as many as 16 different combinations. “I can seldom walk out of my house dressed as a woman so it’s important I wear the right thing,” says Altenburg. Once he finally decides what he will wear he dances the Time Warp until it is time for him to meet up with his friends and attend the show.

 “I feel at home at the Rocky Horror Picture Show,” says Altenburg, “Even with the flying toast and water pistols something about the atmosphere makes me feel like it’s okay to be in tune with my sexuality. It’s the one setting where everyone accepts the unordinary, the odd balls, and men dressed as women.”

Altenburg is uncertain of his sexual orientation which is why he uses The Rocky Horror Picture Show to experiment. “I know I have gay tendencies but I can’t say I am gay,” Altenburg explains, “I am highly involved with my church and if I were to come out and say that I like men I’d probably be excommunicated. With The Rocky Horror, I can leave my house as Kelli-Lyn Koch and not have to worry.”

This Halloween, Altenburg says Kelli-Lyn will be the most flamboyant persona he has yet to unleash. “I’m not going to go into details,” Altenburg laughs, “but let’s just say there might be glitter and a lace collar involved this year.”