Chasing Glace

Chasing Glace

As Rick Viede begins to describe his stage alter ego Glace Chase’s debut in the new show Glace Chase Will Heal The World, it becomes clear this is not another cabaret show paying tribute to the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber or Stephen Sondheim.

Actually, it seems there will be little doubt about the bold and defiant nature of the show from the moment Glace takes to the stage.

Glace appears wearing a T-shirt which says -˜Bindi is a Whore’, so he is guaranteed to ruffle feathers, Viede tells.

I am just a little tired of artists who are dull and boring and these people trying to make out they are exciting and new, but without putting themselves on the line either emotionally or through their material.

My stuff is politically and emotionally confronting and I don’t shy away from any of it.

Glace Chase Will Heal the World explores the journey of the character Glace, an American 1980s child sitcom star who is now in his late 20s and wondering what to do with his life.

Having lost his entire family in the terrorism attacks in Oklahoma City and New York, Glace decides it is his mission in life to become a peace activist.

And Glace is prepared to go to any length to bring healing to those in need, as Viede explains: Glace sings about supporting the troops in Iraq, but while he thinks he is going to perform for them, they always seems to ask more of him than what he wants to give. But he will do anything he can for world peace.

While Glace would also never identify as being gay, he will sleep with older men in positions of power, but only about once a week. He is just pragmatic and doing what he needs to do to get the job done and get ahead.

Glace’s catchphrase is -˜in a world that doesn’t make sense’, and that suits as neither does he -“ he is such a bumble of contradictions in terms of gender and identity. He walks along that line.

Viede is having a busy Mardi Gras, not only performing as Glace in the one-man show, but also appearing in the comedy play Vampire Lesbians Of Sodom at the New Theatre and as a drag artist in the short film, Stray, which screens on Sunday 25 February at the Dendy Newtown.

Describing himself as a performer who is a product of the underground queer scene and subversive cabaret, Viede says he is glad to be involved with shows making statements which are contrary to some of the media images of gay life he sees.

I think the world has turned a little bit safe and gay politics has turned safe, to the point where we just talk about gay marriage rights, Viede says. As important as that is, it is not my bandwagon.

The politics of assimilation now really bores me, as is this normalising of gay life. It is so dull and frightening. I just think we should celebrate the subversive and the proud and defiant a little more than we seem to do these days.

Glace Chase Will Heal The World plays 23 February and 2 March at Bar Me, Kings Cross. Bookings on 9368 0894.

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.