Welcome to the world of true drag-glitz and glamour. This production had an incredibly engaging storyline that pulled the audience in from start to finish. Drag Baby was an evening in theatre I won’t forget, and a show I would return to time and time again. This production had it all, and a little bit more.
What an amazing high-energy-interactive production.
Drag Baby – Welcome to the world of true drag-glitz and glamour, with an incredibly engaging storyline that pulled the audience in from start to finish. All thanks to the remarkable writing skills of Grace Carroll and the 4 actors who each delivered a captivating performance. This is a story about a drag artist in his 30’s called Dan. Dan has been in show business for a decade and is more than ready for his big break. He is potentially about to embark upon a contract with a world class TV show (ITV3, world class? I’ll leave that one for you to decide), when an old flame returns to the scene and has a shocking request for him.
You may have a premature expectation when entering this setting and be preparing yourself for a show of giggles and spunk. I mean don’t get me wrong, at times it is just that. It also has a much deeper and engaging tone throughout the entire show. Let me take you back to the start. The scene was set from the moment we, the audience, arrived. We were sat inside a drag queens sparkle-tastic dressing room. From sequins on the left to some of the most eclectic wigs on the right and the perfect lit up back-stage-mirror in the centre. Not forgetting the array of colour from the feather bowers and the silver sparkle back drop, of course. As we take our seats and pause for the show to begin, they played the perfect playlist for what we were about to witness. Yes, you guessed it, cheesy pop tunes from the 80s and 90s. This sound track continued throughout the show and I would not have wanted this any other way. The stage lights go up and we are greeted by the one and only Dan in drag. He introduces us to his on stage world that is nothing short of fabulous. He works the crowd with his feminine wiles and makes us all laugh with his quick whit and his northern masculine voice, that he drops in to his drag act from time to time. Stephen Cheriton gave us a phenomenal performance in their rendition of this lead role, Dan. They bounced effortlessly from one high energy drag queen to the emotionally conflicted Dan. They held the show in the palm of their hands, having a strong connection with each performer and we, the audience, felt safe whenever Dan was on stage. Stephen Cheriton was a joy to watch.
As the show continues, with each scene having a seamless transition, these 4 incredibly talented actors take us on a journey through a transitional period in each of their lives. We received a real sense of the struggles these individuals had faced in their past, up to this current day. I think most people in the audience could relate to at least one character, in one way or another. I felt a great deal of empathy and understanding for each and every individual.
Every actor gave an extraordinary and convincing performance. I will say my personal favourite was Nicole Evans who played the role of Sally. From the moment she entered the room I was in awe of her and how very real she was. She truly was Sally and there was never a moment where she or any of the actors for that matter fell out of their characters. One thing I didn’t expect from this sparkle extravaganza was the rollercoaster ride these actors took us on and the emotional moments that completely caught me off guard.
Finally, the onstage chemistry between Dan and Sally was a joy to witness. Che, playing the role of Nathan, whilst delivering an excellent performance as an actor, they also dazzled us with an exquisite and strong solo dance piece. In fact they gave us two, though one might have been slightly cleaner than the other, if you get my drift, but both dance pieces were brilliantly delivered. Amelia playing Sandra was an incredible actress. Sandra’s character actually arrived later on in the evening, which I believe is quite a hard task to undertake as the audience has already connected to the other characters. However Amelia held her own. Sandra came to play.
Whilst this show was interactive at times, there was a sign before we entered the performance venue explaining that we could simply cross our arms and the cast will know not to interact with us. I thought this was an excellent decision made by this company. Sometimes we simply want to be a spectator, sit back and enjoy the show. I also feel this production would carry well with large audiences across the UK. Drag Baby was an evening in theatre I won’t forget, and a show I would return to time and time again. This production had it all, and a little bit more.