Reports that Mummar Gaddafi has disappeared entirely off the radar have somewhat bizarrely coincided with sightings of a rather unkempt newcomer to the drag scene in downtown Tripoli.
The act, who goes under the name of ‘Gena’, attracted curious glances from regulars at the trendy ‘Tariqs’ venue off Green Square, with a show that promised a mixture of ‘popular camp classics’ and ‘traditional desert power ballads with a focus on militarism.’
But punters expecting regular star turn ‘Barbara’ were enraged at having to fork out 600 dinar to watch the stand-in as ‘she’ turned her attention to tracks from Soft Cell’s seminal work ‘Non Stop Erotic Cabaret’ before attempting to set fire to a number of farts.
As the jeers rang out, Gena attempted to placate the crowd by insisting that she was pre-op and that the stress of it all plus the regular injections was playing havoc with her voice.
Audience member , Harim Azul, said,
“She lacked Barbara’s vocal range and looked like she hadn’t shaved for three days. Not to mention setting the fire alarm off. We had to wait two hours before we were allowed back in which is shit when we have to be back home by nine because of the curfew ”
And Club owner Tariq Abdul, who booked Gena at short notice after Barbara came down with strep throat, says he has come to regret the decision.
“She absolutely butchered ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’ with a uniquely flawed vocal performance and the constant references to US imperialism which I don’t recall in the original. “
“We’re a fairly liberal crowd here and we are entitled to express our opinions when we feel one of the acts doesn’t quite measure up, but you don’t win us over by denouncing us as a bunch of perverts and threatening to attach electrodes to our testicles. ”
“To do so shows a complete lack of awareness of issues affecting the LGBT community here in Tripoli.”
“And as for turning up at the venue in a tank... who does she think she is ? “