Filmmaker John Waters was once hailed as the Pop of Trash. Now he’s a beloved cult figure thanks to the mainstream success of his film Hair and the Broadway musical inspired by it. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando says you will have a rare opportunity on Monday to see him live and in person. JOHNWATERS 1 (ba) 1:20 John Waters initially gained fame and notoriety for shocking people with films like Pink Flamingoes and Female Trouble. He now finds it harder to shock his audiences but he continues to display a wit and irreverence that has won him a devoted following. This year he has decided to hit the road with his one-man show A John Waters Christmas. He says you can expect a well written 70-minute monologue that’s constantly being updated and detailing his obsession and passion for the winter holiday. JOHN WATERS: How you can deal with it even if you hate it, even if it’s not your religion and you resent it, even if you don’t have one penny to buy presents, even if you hate going home or at the same time if you are insanely decorating the day after Halloween. One of his favorite Christmas memories is of the tree falling on his grandmother. JOHN WATERS: Just remember, if the tree falls over this year treat it as a miracle, treat it as a thing to remember and to embrace with your family. Fear not, grandma was unscathed. You can enjoy more Yuletide tales with John Waters Monday night at the North Park Theater, Beth Accomando, KPBS News.
Filmmaker John Waters was once hailed as the Pope of Trash. Now he’s a beloved cult figure thanks to the mainstream success of his film "Hairspray" and the Broadway musical inspired by it. Waters makes a rare live appearance in San Diego on Monday at the North Park Theatre for "A John Waters Christmas." It is part of the Casbah Presents series.
Waters initially gained fame and notoriety for shocking people with his films "Pink Flamingoes" and "Female Trouble." He now finds it harder to shock his audiences, but he continues to display a wit and irreverence that has won him a devoted following.
This year he has decided to hit the road with his one-man show "A John Waters Christmas." Here's what he said people can expect:
"They can expect a ho-ho-homosexual no," he said with a laugh. "They can expect, hopefully, a well written 70-minute monologue that I am constantly updating. That is my obsession and passion for Christmas, and how you can deal with it even if you hate it, even if it’s not your religion and you resent it, even if you don’t have one penny to buy presents, even if you hate going home or at the same time if you are insanely decorating the day after Halloween."
One of his favorite Christmas memories was when the Christmas tree fell on his grandmother.
"She wasn’t really hurt or anything, but I have exaggerated it and I had the scene in 'Female Trouble,' where Divine knocks over the Christmas tree on her mother. So I’ve been hearing tree-falling-over stories in every city for the last 10 years doing this, so I will share some with the audience," Waters sai. "Just remember, if the tree falls over this year, treat it as a miracle, treat it as a thing to remember and to embrace with your family."
Although Waters' show at the North Park Theatre is sold out, you can check out more of his humor in his new book, "Carsick." He'll be on KPBS's Midday Edition Monday to talk about the book and his Yuletide show.
