Under the stage name of Monty Montgomery, she was a brilliant presence in Auckland’s drag scenery.
As an artist, producer and presenter, Montgomery was a high -level king.
“My trawl personality was described as a chaotic cowboy.
“A little of the king of Karangahape RD, so to speak.”
She produced many shows, including drag, quiz Nights and Cabaret, as well as hosting parties and festivals, alongside drag artists such as Kita Mean, Anita Wigl’it and Yuri Guaii.
She has now changed the color of Karangahape RD for a quieter life in Lawrence.
“I bought a section of a small room of Acre, a small village that is 1889 – is a very old and picturesque small house.”
She moved about a year ago.
“My parents thought I was crazy.
“My friends said, ‘What you are doing, you are at the height of your performance career.’
“And I’m like ‘Nah, I want to go to the country’.”
She was now living her dream.
“When I saw him, I was like ‘this is literally, word by word, everything I imagined,'” she said.
After she left Auckland, she “arranged the dragging thing.”
“I really didn’t want to do this kind of show, because they were too late at night, it was just wild and fun and other ornaments, but I was like, no, I really want to relax now.
“I still take test nights and comedy nights and bingos and things like that.”
Changing to small town life was an amazing experience, she said.
“It’s not small done somewhere alone and hoping that people enjoy you, especially when you’re someone like me, who is a little different and so on.
“But instead I received with such open arms and amazing people.”
This positive experience informed his decision to write about his journey and the result, Live, Ria, Lawrencewill debut at Dunedin Fringe Festival.
“It’s not wearing a wig, it’s not like a king of drag.
“I’m literally just me with a microphone saying to the wires and just sharing the story.”
Live, Ria, Lawrence
Sunday, March 16 to Tuesday, March 18
7:30 pm every night
Over 18 years
Suburbs and nightlife restaurant
153 Stuart St
Central Dunedin
sam.henderson@thestar.co.nz
