For the first time ever in Cabaret of Queerosities history, the audience was treated to a duet between Ice Amore and Matt Hazard. I was genuinely surprised to realise that there has never been a diet at one of these events and I am so glad that these two were able to make history together. Having recently seen Hazmat perform at Draglins (which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2024/03/27/draglins-production-review/) and having seen Ice perform numerous times there is no other pairing that I could see performing Loser Baby by Hazbin Hotel together. They both worked together to deliver a wonderfully camp and theatrical routine that talked about the power of togetherness and friendship. In the closing moments of the event, the audience was treated to a solo performance from Matt Hazard who showcased his unique brand of eccentric cabaret. I cannot think of a son that fits Matt’s brand more than “Bourbon Street” by Jeff Tuohy and every single time they perform this track the audience seems to always thoroughly enjoy it!
The first performer of the evening to grace the stage was the fabulous, queen of camp and reigning Etta’s drag marathon winner Catrin Feelings (who we recently saw host the latest iteration of draglings which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2024/03/27/draglins-production-review/) who looked absolutely incredible! I thought it was insanely clever to choose to open the entire show with a live rendition of the iconic “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor as this instantly got the crowd excited for the rest of the performers. Having such a recognisable song as not only the first number in your set but also the first performance of the evening got the audience instantly energised as they roared the lyrics back at the performer on the stage. Catrin’s second song of the evening was a total contrast as it was not a song I was particularly familiar with. On top of this, they also decided that this second performance would be a lipsync (again a total contrast) which allowed Catrin to showcase the breadth of talents she presents which actually tied in beautifully to the second song. Their performance of “What the World Needs is People Like Me” from Ride the Cycle which is a song all about the talents the performer possesses. At one point Catrin pulled out her sash from winning the aforementioned Etta’s drag marathon further the song’s narrative of showing off. However, Catrin managed to sprinkle in the perfect amount of comedy into the routine which not only had the audience laughing throughout but also highlighted the fact that this performance was in fact ironic and satirical.
A queen who also took part in the same season of Etta’s drag marathon as Catrin was the amazing Ivory Glam (who I have also interviewed which you can watch at https://youtu.be/DkydmBZr3J8?si=cLgw75_4iopGyUPA) who started off by delivering a lip-sync to yet another icon camp classic. She opted for the wonderful working 9 to 5 from the musical of the same name (which we actually reviewed at https://fairypoweredproductions.com/9-to-5-the-musical-review-2/) Instead of just simply performing one of Dolly Patron’s most successful tracks, Ivory decided to splice it with sections of that viral video of the outraged Tesco worker who was working till ten which had the audience laughing throughout. I personally thought it was very clever for Ivory to cut these two pieces of pop culture together as the theme of working overlaps both aspects perfectly which made for a very cohesive narrative for the audience to enjoy. Ivory’s second performance of the evening however would have to be one of the best performances I have ever seen from her! Their live rendition of “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid (which we recently reviewed at https://rhysreviews.com/2023/05/29/the-little-mermaid-2023-movie-review/) which was an absolute treat for the ears! The added riffs at the end of the song were amazing and helped to bring a perfect end to the tracks.
Next up is a queen who seems to appear in every single one of our reviews at the moment, it is the brilliant Chae with a C (who is currently taking part in Eagles Got Talent which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2024/03/28/eagles-got-talent-2-production-review/.) Chae’s first performance of the evening was yet another parody of “Don’t you want me” by the Human League (sadly not of the elf persuasion) where the lyrics were totally stripped back to simply be “you were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar … in a cocktail bar” which had the audience in hysterics throughout. Chae is very quickly making a name for themselves for crafted unique and eccentric performances that are just pure fun and this performance was no different. At this iteration of Cabaret of Queerosities, Chae decided to showcase a number that was a love letter to burgers complete with a microwave. During a rendition of “Bip Burger” by Bip Ling, Chae decided to ‘cook’ a rustler burger in the on-stage microwave. This kitchen application was not plugged in but Chae decided to use the flashlight of their mobile phone to make the inside of the microwave light up as if it was actually switched on. While the cooking process was taking place Chae showcased an array of sensual dance moves which really added to the absurd and surrealness of the performance!
Those who have seen the fantastic Khloe Luxx perform before will know that she is known for her high-energy choreography but for their first performance they decided to go in a completely different direction. They grace the stage in an absolutely incredible, elegant black gown with a gorgeous blonde up-do which worked together to create an extremely glamorous ensemble. This look had clearly been carefully throughout as it worked perfectly with their lip-sync song choice of “sky-fall” by Adele which totally stripped back on all theatrics to deliver a very powerful rendition of the iconic ballad. The second performance of the evening from Chloe saw him go back to the high-energy, dance-heavy performance style we are used to from her but this performance was on a whole other level! Their stage presence meant that it was absolutely impossible to take your eyes off the young performer as owned every inch of the stage and audience area with her incredible dance talents which the audience went absolutely wild for! Seeing Chloe go from pure elegant, glamorous and emotional performance to the classic high-energy spectacle with two very distinct looks shows just how talented this performer truly is!
Next up was the amazing Taffy Apple who I became aware of through Del-Fflur productions (which you can read about their most recent show at https://rhysreviews.com/2023/12/10/festive-frolics-production-review/) Taffy’s first performance of the evening was an emotionally powerful, lip-sync performance of the Billie Eilish track “the 30th” which is not a song that I am particularly familiar with. This is an extremely emotional song which talks about Billie’s real-life experience of surviving a car crash with someone they dearly loved. Taking on such a sadly relatable song can be immense difficult but Taffy was able to perform in such a way that was respectable, emotional and easy to understand which is not an easy balance to maintain. Taffy made an effort to capture all this emotion in their performance to showcase a very moving rendition of this intense song. An almost total contrast to their first performance, the second performance from Taffy opts from a live rendition of the extremely camp “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks which is another song I am not particularly familiar with. This song tells the story of two best friends who sadly begin to drift after one finds a toxic relationship which again is an extremely relatable experience many people who have gone through at some point in their lives. While the message is somewhat sad, Taffy was able to inject the perfect amount of comedy into the routine which the audience thoroughly enjoyed!
Next up was the queen of Ceredigion and dancing diva Serenity who delivered a high energy mix paying homage to the iconic Disney villain Maleficent. Serenity graced the stage with the most fantastic horns and a cape tracing behind her that instantly made the connection to the character made famous by Angelina Jolie. The number began to build up as the choreography queen began removing the props to showcase their incredible dancing talents. What is particularly fantastic about Serenity’s performance style is that she uses ever single inch of her body within the movements to perfectly capture whatever over-arching narrative she could be telling. She uses the most fantastic facial expressions to really amplify the emotional backing of this number on top of her usual brand of high energy dancing. Serenity also used every inch of the stage and audience area to create a truly immersive and exciting performance that kept the audience totally transfixed throughout. At one point Serenity pulled out an incredible jump split that instantly got the audience overwhelmed with excitement! This routine has clearly been carefully crafted to build alongside the music so that not only do you get the theatrics/stunts but still keeps a heavy focus on storytelling which is my favourite blend of performance perspectives!
Next up was the captivating Myst Fortune who graced the stage in a gorgeous white outfit which is always a gamble after what happened with the oil at the Previous Cabaret of queerosities. Similar to the performance of Dragula season five runner-up at the previous show (which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2024/03/03/cabaret-of-queerosities-3-production-reviews/), Myst had purposefully selected an all-white outfit to focus on the theatrics later in the routine. As expected, Myst gave a totally mesmerising performance with their interpretive and expressive dance style that had the audience mesmerised from the moment the music began to play. At one point during their performance of “To Love” by Suki Waterhouse, Myst traced her hands over her body and suddenly a burst of blood exploded through her outfit to create a very exciting theatrical inclusion.
The penultimate performer of this cabaret of queerosities event was none other than the queen of chaos Aqueena (who recently competed in the Kings Royal Variety show which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2024/03/25/kings-final-production-review/) The Maltese babydoll has made a name for herself on the Cardiff scene for being an incredibly talented lip-sync performer who possesses a never-ending bag of tricks. The audience was treated to not one but two iconic Aqueena roles and a death drop which left the audience in total awe! The second performance of the evening saw Aqueena pay homage to the queen of the little monsters Lady Gaga with a high-energy medley of Gaga’s greatest hits. On top of this whirlwind tour, Aqueena had also to mix in that iconic “no sleep, bus, club, another club ….” audio clip and also the “99 people in a room” sequence that Gaga has become synonymous with which had the audience laughing throughout but this sequence showed that Aqueena clearly has a deep love and respect for the artist.
The headliner performer of this event was none other than the incredible Copper Topp (who we saw almost a year ago at Brighton Pride which you can read about at https://rhysreviews.com/2023/08/08/brighton-pride-day-one-experience-review/) who rose to fame during there performance of Ru Paul’s drag race UK season four. It’s painfully clear that Copper has drastically changed since her performance on Drag Race as she graced the stage in a stunning neon orange and blue outfit complete with a vibrant orange beard and mohawked hair! Copper’s first performance was a live rendition of “Titanium” by Sia which is an incredibly difficult song vocally by Copper did not seem fazed in the slightest. They delivered a wonderful rendition of difficult wonderfully! Copper then decided to showcase one of their original songs which again is a very controversial choice as there is a high chance many people in the audience may not know the words which is a nightmare as a performer. However, Copper’s song “Weirdo” was a very powerful and emotional song that was structured in a way that it was Copper telling the audience a story and then during the chorus was when the audience should sing along!
Overall, Cabaret of queerosities starring Coppers topp showcases the wide array of talent the Cardiff drag scene has to offer which is always a fantastic thing! What was absolutely fantastic was the fact that the headliner Copper made sure to sit amongst the audience during the first act to show that they truly support local drag. Seeing the established performer share a stage with new and rising performers in the latter sections of the show helped to create a truly welcoming and supportive environment which is exactly what new performers need! I would rate this event 5 out of 5 stars!
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