Don't know why I'm reminded of Alice's puzzling over which side of the mushroom to eat

I don’t know why, when trying to think of how to describe Sondra Prill, Alice puzzling over which side of the mushroom to eat comes to mind. Maybe it’s the uncertainty of whether fate will take you to the home for which you long or drop you in disaster’s lap.

Came upon the below at YouTube via Idolator. The siren is Sondra Prill, who had had her own show on Tampa Public Access in the late 80s to early 90s, and she’s performing Addicted to Love.

This woman gives me the goosebumps.

Yes, Addicted to Love in what appears to be a fern bar in a mall. Not trusting that Sondra, chewing up the mental ties of Yuppies with gnashing teeth, was a comic genius, but hoping that she was, I was hesitant to watch any more of her videos for fear I’d learn she was operating on fantasiesof hip, musical grandeur rather than sheer guts.

But of course I had to watch more and I opted next to see what her take would be on The Star Spangled Banner.

Nearly beyond description. A latter 20th century shades of Gibson Giirl sultress cocking eyebrows at the Red White and Blue’s stamina. With a split hair’s breadth allusion to Bernadette Peters. Still not confident that she was self-aware, but hooked regardless, I watched the below interview.

Then I read at Youtube a comment by the producer of the interview, that everyone on the public access crew got the joke but Sondra, who had as agent her mother, who was also her best friend, who made her costumes and did her hair. Who also went everywhere with her, and Sondra complained in Part 2 of the interview, with a premade sign, that because of this she had a disease called MIA-SEX. Perhaps her mother also scripted her act because after presenting the gag, Sondra didn’t quite know what to do with it and let it sit in her lap.

I read elsewhere that the big theater show didn’t go too well for Sondra. The tickets topped out at $50, which was a bit pricey in those days. A confused reviewer wondered why honey was poured on her. I’m just sorry we don’t have footage of it.

Wherever Sondra is now, here’s hoping she’s happy.

Anyway, though Sondra Prill’s adaptation has its curious charms (indeed, I’ve watched the video several times now and my enjoyment is steadfast), if your mind is now craving the real thing (as was mine eventually) here’s Robert Palmer in his classic “Addicted to Love”.

What a fine voice. Died too young.