A part of KISStory

I’m standing in Onalee Ames Studio where the majority of the rehearsals have occurred for Lester Gets KISSed (LGK), a Winnipeg Fringe Festival Production for which I am the stage manager and a cast member.

“You’ve done makeup on yourself before right?” asks a fellow cast member. “Not really,” I reply.

This isn’t ordinary lipstick and eyeliner we’re talking about. In this production I’m portraying 1970s-era Gene Simmons of the mega-sized rock group KISS, which entails donning full greasepaint makeup, eight-inch platform heels, body armour, and tights.

My journey with this started when I came across an ad for auditions that stated “If you happen to look like Gene Simmons or Jesus ... all the better.” I couldn’t resist, but not because of any resemblance I have to rock god Simmons, but because I happened to be sporting long hair and a sizable beard: my “Jesus” look.

The first audition for the role of Jesus went well enough to earn me a call-back. While at the call-back the directors had me stand in on other people’s auditions and had me read as Simmons as well as another rock relic from KISS, Paul Stanley.

Again, things went well enough for them to keep calling me back but not two minutes after I received an e-mail asking me to return to as Jesus again, I was asked to read only for the role of Simmons. Apparently the impression I created from watching youtube.com videos of Simmons paid off.

Writer/directors Kevin Doherty and Alan MacKenzie, did something different and cast two people to play Simmons; myself and a high school teacher who happens to be a KISS Army fanatic named Russell Antymis. Not that he had to prove his fanaticism, but Russell showed up to his first audition in the full costume and makeup that we are now sharing for the actual production.

LGK is a comparatively large production, especially for the Fringe. There are a total of 14 performers in the cast, many of whom have other commitments, be it film work, dancing or even other Fringe productions. This means that I often had to stand in for actors who were missing.

To complicate things further, early in the rehearsal process I was offered the position of stage manager, which meant that I’d be responsible for all of the sound and lighting cues, plus all of the scene transitions during the performances. Basically, once the directors were done with us during rehearsals, I’d run the actual show.

This wouldn’t be a Fringe show if it did not face some troubles. A rotation of performers went through the Paul Stanley role before we found an actor without commitments out of town. I found it amusing that in a city which has a cover group called ‘the Paul Stanleys,’ for a while we couldn’t land a single one. The role of Jesus didn’t fare much better. The role seemed cursed as Ryan McDonald (the actor portraying Jesus) battled a sprained ankle and mono throughout rehearsal process. Thankfully, he took it all in stride and never had to leave any of the two Fringe shows he was in.

I have done productions I was less than proud of but I can honestly say this is one of the best experiences I’ve had in the Fringe thus far. The show is loaded with very talented and funny people and the musical numbers are straight out of the KISS library (spectacle attributes included).

Lester Gets KISSed is the story of a bible shop worker who rekindles a suppressed love for rock ‘n’ roll when KISS reunites for one night only in his hometown. LGK is showing at the MTC Warehouse until July 27. Tickets are $9 or $5 if you show up in full KISS makeup.