There was nothing more exciting in my childhood than when my favourite TV shows announced that they would be blurring the lines between different universes and producing a unique cross-over episode. I don’t know what it was about seeing a character from one TV show transcend their world and enter a totally different one but this was peak TV! We have had the mega mix of that’s so suite-life of Hannah Montana, Batman vs Superman, King Kong vs Godzilla and now we have the Cabaret of Queerosities (who we most recently saw at Fuel which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2024/02/01/cabaret-of-queerosities-2-production-review/ and Haus of Koas (who we most recently saw performing alongside Miz Cracker which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2023/11/13/haus-of-cymru-in-birmingham-production-review/collaboration with both groups wanting to showcase local drag/alternative performers! On top of this unique fusion, the audience was also treated to a special guest appearance by Orgotik who is best known for competing in season 5 of Dragula but more on them later.
Going into any Ice Amore performances there are a few things to expect. Firstly, any time Ice is on the stage they are guaranteed to look absolutely amazing. The makeup is always perfect, the outfit is always stunning, the wig is always gorgeous etc. I do have to say however that the mushroom look they decided to showcase in this event was one of the greatest things I have ever seen! The actual bodes of the black and outfit stoned outfit fitted the performer flawlessly showcasing their incredible figure with the insane mushroom headpiece really completing the look. Not only did this look amazing but also fitted with the fungi-inspired song called ‘Mushrooms/deadpeople’ by Meredith Bull accompanying the performance! The second thing we can usually expect from an Ice Amour show is the fact that they will probably at some point jump off something into that iconic jump splits. We did not get to see this stunt this time however as they decided to go down a much more ballet/interpretive dance style performance. Due in part (I believe) to the massive mushroom headpiece limiting the movement Ice could safely perform, the more fluid and flowy dance sequence was highlighted by the incredible draping selves that danced across the air as Ice moved around the stage. This act was a total spectacle with the movement, track and outfit all working together flawlessly to create an incredible performance.
What I thought was very clever about Ella Menopea (who can watch part of their performance at https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeU5hvPJ/) is that they had a very clear and cohesive storyline to all of their performances. They graced the stage wearing a cowboy hat as they launched into performances of country anthems such as Jolene by Dolly Parton and Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood. On top of both of these songs being performed beautifully with the audience singing along throughout the songs themselves were arranged perfectly as they fed into the narrative of having an unfaithful partner. Clearly, Ella had carefully considered the whole routine to create a very cohesive performance that maintained the audience’s attention as they could not wait to see what would happen next. Their second act took a much more emotional perspective as Ella talked about how she does not feel like she has been winning this year (which connects wonderfully to the storyline of the first two performances) which segued into an incredible rendition of ‘Maybe This Time’ by the icon Liza Minnelli. This rendition was absolutely incredible with the deeper sections of the song being a particular highlight. It appears that Ella really excels in the larger-than-life theatrical tracks as she not only is a talented vocalist but has a presence that it is impossible to take your eyes off!
One of my favourite performances of the entire event was from the first special guest of the evening. It was announced by Ice Amour that the terrifying Micheal Myres (not the one from Shrek) has travelled all the way from Hollywood to haunt us and if this is what it is like to be visited by one of the most iconic horror villains then I need to do it more often! It turned out that this wasn’t, in fact, the fictitious murderer but instead Nicholas Hoare (who we were lucky enough to interview and you can watch the video at https://youtu.be/XqQgdwE5sX0?si=ncXQS75pZmtEhegm) This performance started with a notebook inspired cue card routine which explained that Micheal does not speak as he has an embarrassingly effeminate voice (complete with a written yas qween for good measure) which had the audience in hysterics from the get-go. After teasing a Jaws-inspired performance, this transitioned to a ‘lipsync’ performance of Baby Shake by Pink Frog which was so incredibly ridiculous but was absolutely brilliant to watch! When you actually sit down and think about it having the murderous Micheal Myres dance around the stage to Baby Shark does not sound like it should work but it had the audience in fits of laughter throughout. This is probably one of my favourite Nicholas Hoare performances I have ever seen!
Another queen we have actually been lucky enough to chat with was the wonderful Ivory Glam (which you can watch at https://youtu.be/DkydmBZr3J8?si=8AL4mXbb9rPl4qJ3) following from their top four performance during Etta’s drag marathon season two. At the previous iteration of the cabaret of queerosities, Ivory wowed the audience with a plethora of stunts and tricks (including an incredible split) but this time they decided to strip back all the theatrics to keep the focus on their incredible vocal talents in a live singing spectacular. They decided to perform the iconic ‘Since you’ve Been Gone’ by Kelly Clarkson (now connected to the Pitch Perfect franchise) which is a very vocally challenging song to take on but Ivory did not seem fazed in the slightest! The higher sections of the song were particularly beautiful with the audience attempting (due to the range of the show) to sing along throughout. The second section of the night saw Ivory flex their comedic and innovative talents as they were forced to adapt to two additional people on stage cleaning (myself being one of them) and a new ‘design’ around the venue but more on that later.
One of the people I have known for the longest time is Matt Hazard as we actually performed in musicals together during our time in high school. While they were an incredibly great performer in school, they seem to have grown and developed into their own unique character which is absolutely amazing to see! This toxic monster-infused drag king has mastered the art of camp cabaret-style performance with the incredible vocals being a particular treat for the ears. The audience was perplexed during the second act as Matt proceeded to install a plastic net across the stage (which Ice Amore cleverly covered over) but when a massive bucket of slime was pulled out the whole thing began to make sense. This performer then began to pour the UV slime over them as they delivered a rendition of Toxic Love by Tim Curry. Despite having slime smeared over their body, Matt continued to deliver an incredible lip-sync performance complete with the most wonderful facial reactions throughout! This was such a unique performance that went down particularly well with the alternative drag fans who came to see the headline act of this event!
One of my qualms with shows such as Ru Paul’s Drag Race is when they decided to do a talent show and every performer decided to sing live or do a lip-sync performance. While the performances themselves can be amazing, the point of these challenges is to showcase a hidden talent that will make you stand out from the rest of your competitors which is clearly what the next performer on this iteration of the cabaret of queerosities had in mind Burlesque is an art form that I have only recently been introduced to (having only seen two burlesque shows in my lifetime. The most recent of which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2023/12/10/festive-frolics-production-review/) and one thing I noticed is that many people do not appreciate the skilful artist that is required on this art form. Taffy Apple demonstrated that it is not simply about removing clothes but instead, the tease while also focusing on the entertainment value of the performance. A highlight for me was during the removal of their gloves which was gracefully timed perfectly to the music with each tug lining up with the music flawlessly. The closing sequence saw Taffy remove their top and showcase a stunning pair of nipple tassels that the audience went wild for! This was the perfect way to end the routine as it was the end of the tease but also left the audience incredibly excited for the next performance. Taffy Apple is a queen whom I have been following on Instagram for a long time but had not been able to see them perform live based on this performance they are someone I need to keep a closer eye on in the future!
I have said it before and I will say it again if there is one thing about Kiki Babs (who we also interviewed at https://youtu.be/Qex8pvgSGLg?si=_dS2nH7rnilta7v3)show, it is that you never know what to expect! For this show, they decided to harness the same eccentric and intense energy used for their unique Scream performance during the Halloween show feature Drag Race UK’s Charity Kase (which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2023/10/29/haus-of-cymru-in-cardiff-performance-review/ and this time took to the stage as a mermaid covered head to toe in oil. This powerful message of climate conversation saw Kiki drag herself across the stage and into the audience as the exhausted siren to spread awareness of the damage we are causing to the oceans. It is abundantly clear that Kiki had thought about every single aspect of the performance and ways in which to keep the important message centre stage. Their commitment to the distressed site really helps to emphasise the message of damage and distraction we are doing to the environment and the fact that she was drenched in oil helped to give a visual depiction of what is actually happening in our oceans. The ‘oil’ itself left a metaphorical and literal mark after her performance as there were streaks of paint everywhere that left the audience thinking about the routine hours after it had finished. On top of this, the brilliant mermaid tail that Kiki Babs used was made entirely out of recycled bags which tied the whole routine together and showed that she had carefully considered every aspect of the performance to make a truly cohesive and impactful routine!
Having first seen the wonderful Chloe Lux perform at first del-lightful debuts (which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2023/11/19/del-lightful-debuts-performance-review/) I knew that she is a incredibly talented dancer this time however she decided to really double down on sensuality showcasing a performance of Black Velvet by Alannah Myles. For drag race fans this song is probably synonymous with season three winner Raja and trans icon Carmen Carrera for their sexually fuelled performance during a lip-sync for your life, but for us this will forever be associated with Chloe Lux! They used every inch of the stage and audience area to deliver an incredible performance while finding opportunities to showcase their incredible dance talents. This unique fusion of high-energy choreography and picture-perfect beauty creates a mesmerising performance that the audience went wild for!
I have to admit that going into the event I was not particularly familiar with the headline act for the event Orgotik as I have never watched a single episode of Dragula. For those who don’t know this is a show designed for the more alternative and spooky style of drag performers hosted by the Boulet Brothers where bottom performers are subject to intense extermination challenges to decide who is eliminated. This doesn’t seem like the perspective of drag that I particularly am attracted to (however I know millions of people are) but even I cannot deny that Orgotik was absolutely mesmerising at this show! The Argentina-based Colombian drag performer graced the stage in a gorgeous white outfit that was covered head to toe in needles complete with a wonderful area of reveals. At one point, Orgotik got right into the centre of the audience as a pint of blood was poured all over them which was particularly striking due to the white outfit they had on. Due to the unique look and theatrics attached, I have to say that Orgotik was totally mesmerizing and I could not take my eyes off them as they owned every inch of the stage/audience area.
In conclusion, this cabaret of queerosities and Haus of Koas collaboration maintained a clear focus on showcasing alternative and local talent. The headline act provided star quality and their performance fitted the theme of the entire evening perfectly. The range of performances (from oil protests, a slime shower, blood dosing, burlesque etc) helped to create an unpredictable and exciting lineup that kept the audience on the edge of their seat throughout. I would rate this performance 5 out of 5 stars and you can check out the rest of our pictures from this event on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rhys.reviews?igsh=cW12NW1hOWVycDZ1&utm_source=qr
Rhysreviews 
4 Comments