Shut Up Sweet Charlotte arrives in San Diego this week as a stop on its “back by popular demand” engagement. Directed by, written by and starring drag sensation Varla Jean Merman, the show is scheduled to play the Birch North Park Theatre for five performances Wednesday, Oct. 21 through Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. There will be an additional matinee performance on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.

Shut Up Sweet Charlotte’s arrival in San Diego is part of an additional five-city tour for the show in response to the demand, which has rippled across the alternative arts and entertainment milieu throughout the country.

Varla Jean recently sat down to chat about life, love, and the pursuit of the perfect man in uniform.

Gay & Lesbian Times: When writing an adaptation of a play or movie, do you find yourself holding back more than you would for your solo act?

Varla Jean Merman: In my solo act there is no holding back, but when adapting a movie like Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte there is a certain tone to the characters already that I try to stay true to. I definitely add my “quirky” humor to it. It’s not too vile or too clean. It’s “naughty enough” for the gays but little old ladies that wander in won’t be offended either. It’s a fast paced, funny adaptation of an already odd story that I love!

GLT: Have you or do you plan on working out of drag?

VJM: I find it harder to act as a man. The characters I play in drag are so much more interesting to me. I feel awkward otherwise.

GLT: You certainly have worked with some very impressive people. Lily Tomlin, Joan Rivers, Betty Buckley and Jennifer Holiday to name a few, you have been on shows such as “All my Children,” HBO’s “Dragtime,” E!’s “Fashion Emergency,” E! “Goes to Cannes” in addition to all your stage productions. Is there anyone on the top of your list to work with in the future.

VJM: I would LOVE to work with Kristin Chenoweth, I worked with her once in a concert of songs from Funny Girl, but she is just amazing. I wish she was on Glee permanently. I just love her. Although, she is so tiny like all of four foot something. I’m about 6’2” so that (may be) a little too much visually ya know?

GLT: Last year you celebrated 10 years in drag, what can we look forward to in the next 10 years?

VJM: Oh gosh, I just want to keep on doing what I’m doing. But I think more theater adaptations, some more short films. You know videos are how I got my start, I wasn’t going out to bars in drag or anything. I just made videos with my friend because all the bars were looking for funny videos to play.

GLT: What do you think of RuPauls Drag Race, and the direction drag has taken with more of an outrageous “in your face sort” of look?

VJM: I think it’s just the style of the times we’re in, it’s really just an extension of their personalities not so much a character or pretending to be someone else. It’s just who they are. I love that RuPaul has put drag back in the public eye, you know Logo had very little drag for years so I think it’s great they are showing these different facets of drag. I want to say though that RuPaul’s show is supposed to showcase the next (next) drag superstar but, ya know, they are all very good. But they are lip-synching to RuPaul records. RuPaul is a superstar because he has a great talent, singing and writing his own songs. I just think if you are going to be a superstar, you should be using your own voice or doing something amazing that no one else does

GLT: I loved your On Star commercial parody. In it you had a Boy Scout tied up and in the trunk of your car, you obviously like men in uniform. Do you have any plans when you get to San Diego to “support” our local Military?

VJM: Well you know I lived in San Diego when I was very young, my dad was working here then he became an FBI agent. So I’ve always been around men in suits and uniforms. I love it, sweetie, I’d take a man in a McDonalds uniform – I dont care!! But I gotta tell you, last time I was in San Diego I went to that 24 hour fitness in Hillcrest. Oh I love that place, so many military looking men in there.

GLT: I asked some friends to come up with some questions to ask you and several of them wanted to know if you are dating anyone right now? If so where on earth would Varla Jean Merman meet someone to date?

VJM: Well...I am dating someone, and well I don’t think I want to really say where we met, but maybe I should just thank my wonderful sponsor on my Web site.

GLT: You recently lost a considerable amount of weight. Do you credit giving up spray cheese or what’s the secret?

VJM: I did, I lost over 100 pounds. And I swear to you all I ate was red meat and coffee. I’m not kidding, all protein and coffee.

GLT: What’s your biggest guilty pleasure, what do you do behind closed doors that you’re a little embarrassed about?

VJM: Oh gosh I love “America’s Next Top Model,” and you know I love that new Miley Cyrus song “Party in the USA.” I don’t usually like songs with USA in the title. Not that I’m not patriotic, they just usually aren’t very good, but I love this song. The whole Hanna Montana thing ya know “The Best of Both worlds,” I kind of relate to it I guess.

GLT: Who are some of your best drag “girlfriends? ”

VJM: Coco Peru, he is so talented and I admire him so much. Miss Richfield 1981 we share a dressing room in Province Town every year he’s just so much fun. OH and Randy Roberts, we go to Puerto Rico together and pretend to be boys!

GLT: When Varla Jean leaves San Diego at the end of your show’s run here, what do you want the people of San Diego to say about you and Shut up Sweet Charlotte?

VJM: I would really like them to notice how talented everyone in the show is, there are some really funny, talented people in this show that are just hilarious, this is such a great experience for me and I want people to admire the people I’m working with as much as I do.

GLT: What else is coming up for Varla Jean that we can look for?

VJM: Ooh. I’m glad you asked I almost forgot. I just finished taping a drag version of a One Night Stand Up type of show for Logo with Jackie Beat. It’s coming out in January, you know for National Drag History Month.