British drag queen David Raven, who performed as Maisie Trollette, died on March 12. He was 91. He was working as a waiter and drag queen when his husband dubbed him “Trollette,” as he and his onstage partner James Court looked like trolls (Raven never tried to make Maisie look pretty—he was more an old-fashioned Pantomime Dame). Rather than glam, he was funny and talented—unlike so many Ru Paul contestants, he actually sang, rather than lip-synching. Maisie showed up regularly as Brighton Pride, and acted in pantos; sans drag, he performed in touring productions The Boys in the Band and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He told interviewer Jonathan Stewart that the secret to his theatrical success was “Listening carefully, watching the audience. Oh, and a generous helping of natural talent.” When asked the naughtiest thing he’d ever done, Raven said, “I once hid underneath a friend’s bed for two hours just so I could grab his ankles when he came in. I’ve always enjoyed making people scream!” He was the subject of the 2021 documentary Maisie.
Maisie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2CfdhwEFX4
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