BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Where were we? Oh yeah, back from vacation and trying to catch up on the talk around town. Hanging around bars because, well, you gotta eavesdrop somewhere.
HONEYMOON TREATS: We're hearing that Marni Penning and Jasson Minadakis leave on a honeymoon this weekend. And not just any honeymoon. They'll stay with actress Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, Primary Colors, Remains of the Day) in London.
Penning, see, is marketing director of Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, Minadakis is artistic director, and Thompson is on the board of advisers and, well, just invited them.
So, after Saturday's ceremony they drive to New York, then fly to London, where Penning says they'll "see theater, see more theater, then see some more."
Good timing, this, 'cause it will keep a lot of construction dust out of their faces. While they're gone, the Shakespeare crew will be renovating the company's new downtown theater, formerly The Movies. "That means we get out of renovations. Don't think I didn't realize that."
DRESS UPS: We're also hearing that people with, uh, delicate sensibilities might want to stay off Court Street between Race and Plum Sunday. It's the annual Drag Races, a little do produced by Cincinnatian Kym Carr.
And no, we don't mean auto drag racing. These are folk in full drag (pumps, wigs, dress and handbags are required) in four-person relay teams racing two blocks between The New Pipeline and Shooters. No easy task in high heels and tighterthanthis sequined gowns, but these guys are good.
Things are always raucous when a bunch of drag queens get together, but this is especially so because Shooters and Pipeline are bars that pour a really respectable, as in boozy, drink.
Not that the event needs hootch to loosen inhibitions. The Drag Race is traditionally one of the most eye-popping events of the year with runners going to extremes to outdo each other in the outrageous department. Carr, who is not a fashion consultant but who does have a wicked sense of humor, helps with glamour tips.
The way it works is teams pay $20 (the fee benefits local charities) to compete. Court Street's parking lane is closed for the two-plus blocks. The rest of the street is left open to traffic and doesn't that turn heads when the unsuspecting happen by? "I don't think we're in Delhi anymore, Toto."
Winning team gets the coveted Red Pump Trophy for a year.
Oh yeah, for the first time, the 4 p.m. to whenever do has food, raffles, dancing, live shows and happy hour prices.
THE BIGTIME: We're hearing as well that former Cincinnatian Bert Challis, a great favorite on the stand-up comedy circuit when he was here, has landed a job writing full time for Jay Leno.
"Right," says Challis, a 1975 Norwood High grad. "I've been faxing jokes since '92. I was getting $50 a joke . . . I thought this day would never come. It's all so surreal that I'm having trouble believing it. There are only 17 Leno writers on the planet, and I'm one of them? Can this be true? Can it be true that I'm going to sit in an office all day banging out monologue jokes?"
It's true. Challis started Monday on the first 9-5 job of his life. Until now he has been doing morning radio in Dayton, a job that goes 3:15 a.m. to 9 or 10. When he was doing stand-up, he worked the opposite: 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
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