Yes! I also think it’s interesting how many people come to the same references on their own. Before I found Charles Busch’s work, I was obsessed with all of the same references, and before him, Charles Ludlam was obsessed with all those references. It’s funny that something clicked in me when I saw Mommy Dearest for the first time on TV when I was 12. There’s something about Faye Dunaway that just ignites a gene.
If I said you might be considered a queer role model at this point, what would you say to that?
I’d say gross. But also, that’s sweet. When I think of role models, I think of people who were doing their own thing and it made me think, “Oh, I want to do my own thing too.” I never said, “I’m gonna be like that.” I was just like, “Oh, wow, they didn’t have a model to go off of, but they did it anyway.”
What’s next for Cole, and for Mary Todd?
I really want to do the show in London. And it would be nice to film it, even if it doesn’t get released, just so I can watch it when I’m old. And by old I mean in 10 years, when I’m washed up already. Then I would really like to just write for other people.
Are you uncomfortable being in the spotlight and playing the lead?
I feel like I’m getting more uncomfortable as I get older. I had all this hunger and energy in my 20s that got me to where I am now. And I’m a little less hungry for this than I was. But I say that and I’m sure once it goes away I’ll be like, “Let me back in. Please invite me to the party. Get me back on the stage. I’m writing a show that’s just me playing all the parts.”
It sounds like that tension between, “Look at me, don’t look at me.”
Exactly. And now I’m embarrassed because I’ve had enough interviews where I’ve said that I only want to write for other people. And then I’m like, “You fucking liar! Bullshit. Oh, yeah? You’re just gonna write?”
“No, I don’t want to be on the stage at all. No, I don’t want any attention. Don’t mind me. I hate being looked at.”
“Yeah, right.”
We’ll see. I do think that whatever I write next, even if I am in it, I’m going make sure that I get plenty of time offstage or that the part does not require me jumping all over the stage in a heavy hoop skirt bruising my knees and elbows. I’m like, “Who wrote this?” This is a terrible part for someone.
How do you feel about greeting fans at the stage door?
I have to go see the people. It’s my face on the poster! The fans make the show; I really owe it to them. I do look forward to those things. That’s why I do it, to connect with people. It might be different if I were just acting, but I also wrote it. So it means a lot to me to connect with people and have them tell me why they liked it. That feels amazing.
And that’s not embarrassing to admit?
No, I’ve done the ego calculation and I think that it’ll come off as endearing.