“a rough diamond amongst the festival fillers“
Kate Gaul
3/5 full strength mimosas
Wharf 4/5
A Sydney Festival Event
The event is billed as a kind of drag brunch – exactly what is sounds like: exciting drag performances over a comforting and sometimes boozy brunch. But drag brunch is more than just croissants and cartwheels. For many drag artists, the celebration of their craft in the light of day marks important shifts, both in drag as an art form and in queer culture’s place in society. Popular in cities around the world a drag brunch is an indication that people are more than ready to support drag artists outside of “the usual gay bar scene.”
Performing in more and new places for drag brunch means bringing drag to both straight and queer fans who just don’t go out at night. Some fans who go to drag brunch may only ever watched drag shows online. Drag brunch also brings drag to audiences who otherwise might not ever witness a drag show at all.
So, for “Smashed” Wharf 4/5 is transformed into a cabaret-come-burlesque venue with masses of cabaret seating up the front and bleachers towards the back of the room. An in-theatre bar is all part of the experience. All at 11am – or at least that was the advertised starting time. Serving the capacity audience, a free mimosa on entry proved a challenge with all sorts of things going wrong. Running out of juice and clean glasses were all part of the fun. The audience was good natured, and the performers roved to keep those who managed to get inside the auditorium happy as the show commenced 30 minutes after the advertised starting time.
The hostess with the most, Victoria Falconer opened the show and set the pace for lots of music and singing. An excellent performer, Victoria is also the director of this Festival extravaganza. Joined by a host of performers included Malia Walsh, Demon Derriere, Bettie Bombshell, Dale Woodbridge-Brown. Kween Kong is known to some audiences as having participated on Rupaul’s Drag Race Down Under– a definite highlight of this 60-minute show. A strong skilled and robust act. I wanted more. Generally, the show was pretty loose – a lot of in between chatter and light on actual performance. It needs a bit of tightening. The lighting was way too dim for us up the back to see things clearly – but hey after a couple of drinks who’s complaining?! There is something more intimate and special about brunch performances. Artists are mixing with the audience, dancing between tables, performing directly in front of them. The interaction is far more personal and instantly fun.
The verdict – a rough diamond amongst the festival fillers. The venue is opened for cabaret across the festival and it’s great to see the Wharf building with diverse content. As I overheard someone say on the way out – Smashed would have been grand if I’d been smashed or the show had been tighter.
Kate Gaul, Theatre Now
