Life's A Drag... Down Under's Return, Chinese Opera & Le Moulin Rouge!

A Down Under return? Yes, Mama Ru and Michelle Visage headed back 'Down Under' for more 'Drag Race' drama! Chinese Opera has a lot to teach the world, breaking down gender norms and switching roles like Shakespeare did! Krystal Versace's moment in the sun was almost up, Season 4 of 'Drag Race UK' beckoned! Can you do the 'Cancan? Danse, danse! Paris danse! Oui!

After its questionable debut season in 2021, 'RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under' came back with a bang! That second season had me watching, sure it had me looking out for 'Blackface' because there's no room for that foolery. Ten queens fiercely introduced themselves, from 'Palmerston North' to 'Newcastle', both Australia and New Zealand were ready for this second season. A sizzling sausage themed photo challenge kicked off the competition with a maxi challenge, those recyclable materials pushed the queens to their limits! 'Faux Fur' became the second 'Porkchop' queen on the Down Under show since 'Jojo Zaho' sashayed away! 'Cagey Queens' tested the queens acting abilities, without question that acting challenge left an impression! Hosting a 'Drag Brunch' in-pairs certainly pushed the queens teamwork skills, proving that some artists aren't able to share the spotlight. 'Aubrey Haive' sashayed away second with 'Pomara Fifth' bidding an emotional goodbye third. Oh, 'Snatch Game' better don't! DRDU, there I said it boo! 

Snatch Game served us with another 'Liza Minnelli' impersonation, credit to 'Hannah Conda' because she won that rodeo! Were they truly 'Bosom Buddies?' The pop group challenge showed us our final three without any crumbs left, 'BAB'Z' had a plan! Unfortunately, 'The Hung Divas' did not impress the judges. There was a conversation about race but it was handled much better, 'Kween Kong' navigated that meaningful chat with 'Hannah Conda' ever so well. Scarlet Adams, who? The 'Hometown Hunnies' tourism campaign had me gagged, we all wanted one of 'Spankie Jackzon's' chips! Hannah stole that episode! Kween Kong smashed the makeover challenge, her place in the competition had been clawed back because she finally started to believe in our own abilities! Stomping into the finale, a lip-sync 'Battle Royale' sure did commence before the judges! For the second time a 'Kiwi' queen took the title, 'Spankie Jackzon' snatched that trophy! Both Kween and Hannah bowed out as rightful runners up! 'Felicia Foxxx' for season three! Ru!

Chinese Opera has always embraced the art of 'gender-fluidity', serving an opulent and traditionally minded version of 'Drag'. Both male and female roles within the Chinese Opera gig embrace a chameleon, celebrating the true flare of the opera regardless of the gender that's presented on stage. During both Ming and Qing Dynasties, both male and female interactions played out very differently on-stage. It had been deemed improper for both genders to perform as a 'two people' performance. Due to the fear regarding both genders performing side by side during such 'dynasty' periods, either all-male or all-female casts only performed at once. As the 'Qing Dynasty' lasted from 1644 to 1911, a change came from the heart of government as the Peking Opera had become so revered as a part of Chinese culture. That change saw women taken from the billing, the all male cast would need to get 'Dragged Up!' Known as 'Nandan', the art of female impersonation within the art of Chinese Opera continues to thrive! Oh, sissy that opera! 

During 2018 whilst living in Beijing, China, I took myself to the Peking Opera to see 'Farewell My Concubine'. There was no doubt that the main female presenting singer had a formidable voice, her Mandarin Chinese lyrics sounded familiar to me as I was able to understand her. During one of the UK's Lockdown periods I stumbled upon a song I had already heard during my time in China, that song served straight up 'Peking Opera Realness!' '赤伶' by '张新成/Steven Zhang' took me on a 'Nandan' journey with his face painted like the one of the opera girls. Transforming himself from his male presenting get-up to an impressive and softly female presenting Chinese Opera performer. His voice changed as he transformed that expression, serving a true representation of Qing Dynasty Drag! I love to see that even before modern times, China's stages were graced by male-to-female presenting performers. Drag will always be present in Chinese history and its Operas! Sure, Shakespeare missed this boat, he did and more! 

2022 had already served us 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK VS The World' during February 2022, of course we deserved another UK based 'Drag Race' season before 2023 chimed! Season 4? For real? Yes! Turning the volume up, 'BBC Three' so kindly bought twelve stellar queens for us to celebrate! Yes, Northern Ireland had their representation but where had Wales and Scotland got to? Jonbers! 'Just May' told us all to 'Get F**ked whilst she made moves just like Geri, her 'Queen Vic' bust look had me gooped and gagged! The girl group challenge served two groups who both competed for the win at the first ever 'Yass-tonbury Festival', chaos was presented to us! 'Starlet' sashayed away second with her whole fairytale in front of her, South Africa represented! The 'Naff-ta Awards' had me laughing with 'Danny Beard's' incoherent acceptance speech. Copper Top rocked! 'Catty Man' had me cackling like a witch, that Mystic Mog had me gasping for breath! Twerking it out like a depressed moth, 'Sminty Drop' had the last laugh! Yes!

Lairy Poppins: The Rusical was a whole showtime spectacle, improvements had been made since S3! A stellar performance was had for all to witness, come through 'Le Fil' with that leading presence! 'Baby' bowed out gracefully, preserving their mental health she did away from the show. Snatch Game gave me yet more laughs and even more questions, chaos was served in the form of 'Cilla Black' and 'Saint Paddy!' 'Cheddar Gorgeous' came through with a certain 'Elizabethan' hilarity, England's first reigning Elizabeth was the one! Le Fil will keep on smashing those gender roles, proclaiming that fact as they sashayed away. Makeover challenge still reeked of 'COVID' set controls, we wanted actual 'family/friends!' 'Dakota' said goodbye! Acting they did, 'The Squirrel Games' served 'Big Mutha Realness' with a certain 'Davina McCall' embodied for sure! The 'Roast' was led by 'Cheddar' and 'Danny!' Yes, Pixie Polite and Black Peppa! The finale wrapped up the season with all three previous winners present on the runway. 

Impressing audiences in Paris since 1889, Paris's legendary 'Moulin Rouge' has been dazzling for a whole 133 years! With a trip to Paris, France afforded to me in November 2022, there was simply no choice but to book those 'Féerie' tickets! I knew of the Moulin Rouge but the 2001 film was my only reference, after the Pandemic I needed an excuse to dress up for my birthday night-out! £120 for a ticket with a half a bottle of champagne? Paying with those coins, the night came for me to enjoy the delights of the Moulin Rouge! Was I ready for the most Draggiest show in the whole of France? You already know that I was! The red and blue lights had me feeling the 'Red Windmill' fantasy, the iconic 'windmill' greeted me with a healthy serving of Parisian flare. Sipping on my champagne with a centre stage view was a whole mood, I wasn't going to lie! A 'féerie?' Yes, the shows name translated from French to English as 'fairytale!' Those dancers waited in the wings, ready to perform one fabulous French showstopper! Drag is everywhere, P!

The stage was instantly filled with sparkling dancers, their routines were tight and their costumes were revealing to say the very least! Were they lip-syncing? I am sure they were but I wasn't mad! Throughout the show we, the audience were served death-defying stunts and tricks pulled by the interval acts. The contortionist amazed me with her fluid moves, her limbs looked like water with their effortless movements. The female dancers definitely a certain feature on display, whereas the male dancers kept covered up somewhat. The whole show served all that I wanted and much more, obviously the famous 'Cancan' finale would have the whole audience clapping along rapturously! Sure, those Cancan performers who had joined the queens on 'Drag Race France' served still! The pizzazz and glamour had been served to us on tap, opulence overflowed as the cast danced their way through that two hour show! Paris and its fabulous Moulin Rouge definitely told me what time it was! Yes, it was everything and more! You know?!

Kween Kong For Global AllStars!

Desperately Seeking Adventure