Randy Quaid outside the Rio Theatre, Vancouver, April 22 2011. Les Bazso/PNG photo

Randy Quaid at the Rio Theatre, Vancouver April 22

– by Shawn Conner

A line stretching around the block greeted Randy Quaid and wife Evi’s journey into the heart of East Vancouver. The Hollywood couple, who have moved (until further notice) to Vancouver, threw a party and called it a show at the Rio Theatre.

“Scalpers were being shooed away,” according to the Vancouver Sun‘s Peter Birnie, before the event, which began with a screening of a 2008 Canadian film Real Time that starred Quaid. Reaction to the Canadian indie, which features Quaid playing an Australian hitman, was positive, according to Birnie; however, Evi Quaid’s attempt at an art-film docu-drama, Star Whackers, was less than a hit.

The most-discussed aspect of the “work-in-progress” was Quaid’s full-frontal nudity; apparently, the actor declaimed Shakespeare while wearing nothing but an open fur coat. Following the Star Whackers screening, Quaid came out with his band (including his lawyer on drums) to play three songs: “Mr DA Man”, a ballad, and “Star Whackers”, a song he premiered in Vancouver last month opening for local band the Town Pants at the Commodore.

Guttersnipe correspondent Rachel Fox was live Tweeting from the event. Here’s a selection of her comments:

@FoxMe And now he is naked with what appears to be a naked. Remember Viggo Mortensen in EASTERN PROMISES? This is nothing like that. #quaids

@FoxMe This whole night has a real SID & NANCY vibe. Minus the whole “mistress in the white dress.” Sadly, I think this may be genuine. #Quaids

@FoxMe The only thing that might make this movie kinda cool is if it was shot in the Okanagan. I don’t know why, but it would. #quaids

@FoxMe Randy is playing the fiddle while cows are being tied and branded. There is a metaphor here, right? #quaids

@FoxMe Am in the front row. Glancing back at the audience’s mixed reaction pretty amusing. #Quaids @RioTheatre

@FoxMe 1st song, “Mr D.A. Man” sounds OK. Apparently. the drummer moonlights as his lawyer. #quaids Passing thought of Shatner and Dr Demento.

Evi Quaid at the Rio Theatre, Vancouver, April 22 2011. Rachel Fox photo

Randy and Evi Quaid at the Rio Theatre, Vancouver, April 22 2011. Rachel Fox photo

Randy Quaid at the Rio Theatre, Vancouver, April 22 2011. Rachel Fox photo

Randy Quaid at the Rio Theatre, Vancouver, April 22 2011. Rachel Fox photo

Randy Quaid at the Rio Theatre, Vancouver, April 22 2011. Rachel Fox photo

Randy Quaid at the Rio Theatre, Vancouver, April 22 2011. Rachel Fox photo