Arts: New play proves Bourne supremacy.

Byline: Joe Riley

ROCK Hudsonwas 50s Hollywood's closet queen.

Few people knew that the romantic star of more than 70 motion pictures was gay. The truth only emerged days before his death from Aids in 1985.

For most of the other 'hidden' years, Hudson was forced to live a double life, largely manipulated by his manager, another less covert gay called Henry Wilson.

The story of their business partner ship makes a new play coming to Liverpool next month.

Hudson is portrayed by ex-Phantom Of The Opera star Michael Xavier, Wilson by Bette Bourne, a former drag commune member most famous for his wonderful touring show about pioneering gay icon Quentin Crisp, which played Liverpool in 2002.

Resident Alien, covering Crisp's latter years in New York, was written by Tim Fountain, who also pens the Rock Hudson memoir.

"Rock's life was all lies," notes Bette, "but generally, it was a well-kept secret.

"The problem a rose when he got caught in gay bars.

"A young man tried to black mail Wilson, saying he had pictures of his protege taking part in an orgy.

"He threatened to send them to a national magazine and Henry decided that the only way back from the brink was to offer them a story about another of his clients, Rory Calhoun.

"He was a huge cowboy star, but he had a criminal record and had been in jail.

"As it happens, it didn't damage Rory very much, but rather added to his bad boy image."

But eventually it was Hudson who took the upper hand, sacking Henry Wilson, who had himself been caught cruising and was becoming known as the guy who had a stable of pretty boys.

"It was the studio - which provided Rock with his house, limousine and all the trappings - which decided Wilson must go."

Despite the sleaze, Bette doesn't think the once shock revelations about Hudson have damaged his legacy: "He may have been worried about being thought of as an old queen, but people still think of him in his pukka movie persona as the star who played opposite Doris Day."

And talking of old queens, one of Bette's successful recent outings has been playing Queen Victoria (authentically) in Mark Ravenhill's play, Ripper.

"I wore those wonderful boobs which were exactly like my grandma's - big and lows lung.

They made me feel very home-sick.

"I had a crown as well. It was terribly funny."

But he adds: "You won't be seeing me in a frock in this show."

Bette has been Bette (the name went well with his surname) since being part of a Notting Hill Gate drag commune in the 70s.

Adecade earlier, he had graduated from the Central drama school: "I was quite a successful actor with Italianate good looks.

"I did a lot of telly - things like The Saint and The Avengers - mostly playing a baddie.

"So I did lovely things with Diana Rigg and all those people."

Playing Quentin Crisp was a definite plus: "A sweet man. I knew him personally for 20 years. He thought it would be 'fun' for me to portray him."

But as Rock gets ready to hit the road, Bette is also taking a week out mid-rehearsals, to be in a movie with Rupert Friend, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Burke, directed by Stephen Frears.

"I play a baroness in need of a good shave," days Bette.

That seems par for the course.

Rock is at the Unity Theatre, from May 13 to May 17

CAPTION(S):

HARD ROCK: actor Bette Bourne is in Hudson play