Ru Paul’s Drag Race has been nominated for 85 Emmy Awards over the last fifteen years and winning dozens including eight for the host. This now mainstream classic has spawned a worldwide industry of performers across many disciplines. One of the big names to come from this pedigree is now Off Broadway starring in Drag: The Musical.
I have been fortunate enough to see Alaska Thunderfuck’s solo shows in the past. Writing as Justin Andrew Honard, this uber talented queen joined forces with Tomas Costanza and Ashley Gordon to pen the book, music and lyrics to this silly, campy, sweet and dippy delight.
The plot centers around two drag clubs which sit across the street from one another. Alaska portrays Kitty Galloway, the proprietress of the Cathouse. Nick Adams (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) headlines the Fishtank as Alexis Gillmore. Get it? She just so happens to be Kitty’s ex. What happened between to two is unspoken and a running joke. Cue the soap opera histrionics!
This shiny bauble of a show takes its ideas and mixes them in the blender at all speeds: blend, chop and even frappe. Comedy (those eyebrows!) and melodrama (coming of age experiences) combine with the spasmodic energy of the television show’s Rusical concept. Sling it against the wall, ham it up and keep the pace frenetic. They’ll never see your mascara running, darling.
Oh but we do. Drag is a nicely staged production brimming with songs containing rock, pop, disco and punk influences. The camp factor is high. The thematic messaging, as on tv, is slathered on histrionics. The sets and costumes are top notch. Drag is a super fun show and a very fun time in the theater. Unfortunately it misses classic but does offer hints.
Alaska is a star. She commands the stage and there is an effortless ease by which her character is played. Of course she’s a bitch. Why would we go if she wasn’t? Her enemy ex-lover Alexis is also sharp-tongued but has more baggage to deal with in this show. Her brother is present to help with the club’s dire financial situation. He puts “the douche in fiduciary” highlights the lightly raunchy tone.
Brother Tom’s son hangs backstage and befriends his Uncle Alexis. This family conflict meets healing is basic vanilla stuff for sure. Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) as the Dad and Remi Tuckman (can that stage name be real?) as his son are outstanding despite the sappiness overload. Mr. McIntyre’s big number “Straight Man” is a high point.
There are drag queens everywhere. Most are female impersonators, one is actually female (Liisi LaFontaine) and one sports a beard (Nick Laughlin as Puss Puss DuBois). Luxx Noir London edges her fellow queens for the Chante You Stay award but many familiar names get their chance to show off and chew the scenery including Jan Sport and Jujubee (a noticeable audience favorite).
Broadway veteran Eddie Korbich (The Drowsy Chaperone) kills in his Drunk Jerry persona. J. Elaine Marcos also slays in multiple zany characterizations. There is a lot of talent on this vividly imagined stage. The material, however, can be predictably preachy as in “what’s between my legs is none of your fucking business”. The seams between camp and earnestness show too readily.
Drag includes more than twenty numbers and they sound great. For Off Broadway this is a large scale production. Two hours fly by as fans of the genre revel in the sequins and lap up the schmaltz. You will have a good time. Everything is so ridiculous how could you not? You will also see a gorgeously lit scene with Alaska brooding at a table. That moment is a welcome tableau of greatness amid this gleefully stupid romp.
Drag: The Musical is running at New World Stages, just down the hall from The Gazillion Bubble Show (which supplies one of the show’s welcomely meta laughs).
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