Mink Stole and Peaches Christ Talk Queer Cult Films in New Cabaret Show

EDGE: Do you think there needs to an element of divisiveness because "Saltburn" is a great example. And I'd love to hear where you land on "Myra."

Peaches Christ: (laughs) Ha, we just did "Myra Breckenridge" on my podcast. That was the episode that came out the other day. And I have to say rewatching "Myra Breckinridge" through a 2024 lens is jarring. It really is a bizarre movie... I think it's all the more fascinating because of trans politics today and what it meant to trans people then. I think young trans people can't imagine what it meant to folks to see Raquel Welch play a trans woman in a major motion picture. That was subversive and actually very flattering because of the way the world saw trans women at that time. However, Raquel Welch also, rapes a straight man in that movie. And he plays it earnestly. He does not let you off the hook. He is traumatized by what's happening... It's definitely worth a re-review. And of course, there's Mae West, doing, you know, Mae West. It' an amazing, wild, strange movie.

EDGE: Mink, you've been in all the Waters' films. Is there one that you felt you gave your best performance in?

Well, I would always say "Female Trouble." I also thought I did a pretty damn good job in "Pink Flamingos." I think I did a pretty good job in all of them.

EDGE: I think you did a damn good job in "Serial Mom."

Mink Stole: Oh, thank you... I love "Serial Mom." Of the films that I've done with John, my two favorites are "Female Trouble" and "Serial Mom." I think they are his two best. "Hairspray" is wonderful. And it got him the national attention and all of that which broke us out of the underground... That's asking a favorite child.

Peaches Christ: As an obsessed fan of Mink's, in one minute I'm gonna say Peggy Gravel in "Desperate Living," and the next minute I'm gonna say Dottie Hinkle ("Serial Mom"). I'm also very fond of Marge the Neuter ("A Dirty Shame"). I feel like in that movie you're really doing a Karen, through the lens of Mink Stole. It is hilarious.

Mink Stole: It's unlike anything I'd ever done before, which made it really fun.

EDGE: Tell me a little bit about what people can expect from the show. Will Mink do some singing?

Mink Stole: We both will.

EDGE: What films might be included in the discussion?

Mink Stole: We'll talk about "Female Trouble," "Pink Flamingos. With any one of these movies, you can have lengthy discussions so it's going to be snippets. And there will be film clips. The thing about this show that I really love is that it's not scripted, so if we get on a topic, and it is going really well, we'll stay on it for a little longer than we might have. We know basically what we're going to do.

EDGE: And the songs, will they be from films?

Mink Stole: We do a duet of "Female Trouble." The version that I put out on my on my album, which John was very gracious and gave me permission to use. It is without pig squeals... We'll do a couple of songs from my album. Joshua has a song that he opens the show with that I'm not part of and then we'll have a big duet at the end.

Peaches Christ: I'm excited about my new opening number... I'm going to open the show with a cover of Joan Jett doing "I Love Rock and Roll." It's going to be a sing-along that I get to lead the whole audience in (sings) "I love Mink Stole, put another flick on the big screen baby." With all these images of Mink. It's just silly, but wonderful.

EDGE: Mink, you spoke earlier about how Joshua rolled out the red carpet for you when you appeared on his show. Isn't it nice to feel that truly deserved status that you now have?

Mink Stole: It really is gratifying. I have to admit it... I live under large shadows. And I've learned to live under those shadows... But even a turtle likes to come out of the shell every now and then. (laughs) I mean the shadows are earned. Divine's personality, Divine's talent was enormous. And all the accolades that he got were absolutely deserved. And the same for John. And I blame neither of them for casting the shadows. But the shadows existed, nonetheless.

EDGE: But it's nice that you're now emerging from those shadows.

Mink Stole: It is. It's lovely. It's fun. I live in a completely anonymous neighborhood in Los Angeles, Nobody in this neighborhood knows or cares who I am... And I love my anonymity. I would not like it if I had to fend off people every time I went to the supermarket. I like the amount of fame and accolades that I get. Enough that my ego gets stroked regularly, but not so much that it causes me problems.

EDGE: Joshua, a Gen-Z-er comes to you and says, give me five queer cult films to watch. What would they be?

Peaches Christ: Oh, that is a tough question. Gen Z. Okay. "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?," "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,""Female Trouble," "Mahogany" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

EDGE: I love that you chose "Mahogany – it's not often talked about. I would toss "Death Becomes Her" in there.

Mink Stole: "All About Eve."

EDGE: Mink, if you had to choose three Mink Stole films, what would they be?

Mink Stole: "Female Trouble," "Serial Mom," "All About Evil."

This chat has been edited for content and length.

Remaining Tour Dates:
February 14 - Salem, MA (Cinema Salem)
February 15 - Providence, RI (Columbus Theatre)
February 16 - New York City (Green Room 42)
February 17 - New York City (Green Room 42)
February 18 - Philadelphia, PA (Punch Line Philly)
February 20 - Washington, D.C. (The Comedy Loft)