The premise of this particular show is to pay homage to great films of yore, but it’s really just an excuse to saturate everything on stage with enough sequins to outdo even the best efforts of Dame Edna at a Spotlight sale. So when Jessica James, Amanda Munroe, Kris Del Vayze and the giggly Linda Lamont (with the legs) begin the Mary Poppins scene, you know they’re not going to go with historical accuracy for their choice of fabrics.
A highlight of this show was their take on the Muppets; it involves one person dressed head to tie in bright blue elasticised fabric, coloured sponge and rainbow feathers. In many instances the costumes themselves become a dazzling centrepiece to the act, but the facial expressions are the key to pulling the whole scene together and, in the case of their Muppets scene, sending me into fits of giggles.
It’s also worth noting that Drags Aloud don’t actually sing or speak during the show, aside from the video clips that intersect each costume changeover. Each musical piece is simply mimed. And while Drags Aloud chew the scenery, that’s just part of what makes it fabulous; there’s a reason they hawk their upbeat review from Joan Rivers so proudly. The costumes, the camp over-acting, even the sometimes-dry video sequences all meld into a show that’s more about wicked fun than real substance. It’s just four guys dancing their way through costume changes and having a ball at the same time. There’s no reason you can’t too.
