X-Rated Antics at AIDS Benefit

The Scene: The party after Tuesday’s premiere of “Without You I’m Nothing” held at Bar One in West Hollywood. The film was a record of comedienne Sandra Bernhard’s one-woman Broadway show, and the evening was a benefit for the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

The Entertainment: X-rated antics from a troupe of transvestites, emceed by New York cable TV star Robin Byrd, who wore a backless (and we mean backless) cowgirl outfit. Chichi LaRue kicked off the fun by lip-syncing to the song “Nasty,” during which LaRue grabbed 15-year-old Drew Barrymore from the audience. Bernhard cheered the whole thing and even dirty-danced with Robin Byrd.

Who Was There: Director John Boskovich, designer Isaac Mizrahi (who designed Bernhard’s lipstick-red dress), singer John Doe, sculptor Julian Schnabel, writer Bruce Vilanch, actress Theresa Russell with husband Nicolas Roeg, professional gossips the Hollywood Kids, artist Allee Willis, and actress Kim McGuire.

Dress Code: Bernhard’s floor-length red Mizrahi dress made her look like Cinderella’s wicked stepmother. The other woman wore streetwalker chic, while the guys who weren’t wearing dresses wore leather jackets and T-shirts.

Chow: Fresh shrimp, antipasto, pate, and hot pasta. The guests attacked the buffet like the zombies in “Night of the Living Dead.”

Money Matters: The evening raised $50,000 for the group, according to AMFAR president Mervyn Silverman.

Noted: As observed in this space before, the ‘70s are back. Guests wore vinyl shorts, tank tops, dog tags, and even sequined tube tops. The deejay had the nerve to play that ultra ‘70s hit, “One Tin Soldier” by Coven. The crowd showed admirable restraint by not wearing bell bottoms.

Quoted: “Remember, if you don’t have a loved one at home, you always have us!” screamed Bernhard and Byrd to the appreciative crowd.

Triumphs: Sandra Bernhard is not your average Hollywood actress, and this was definitely not your average Hollywood premiere.

Glitches: One woman who approached the buffet was told, “You can’t have any shrimp until 9:30!” That was rude--almost as rude as adult film star Angel Kelly, who took everything off as the mixed crowd screamed and whistled. As we said, it was not your average Hollywood premiere.