BY David Gardette
Drag cabaret legend Dolly Diamond doesn’t miss a beat in her new show for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
She Slayed – A Drag Murder Mystery throws together four Drag Divas in a rough around the edges, very silly but laugh out loud comedy / cabaret. Writer and Director Nicholas Reynolds has assembled a troupe of talented queens each battling for the limelight – doing whatever to reach and stay at the top.
As the ambitious new queen on the block, a very 80’s looking Poussay, who’s lack of dialogue is more than made up for with on point physical comedy, is a treat. The unrelenting starlet, Iva Rosebud, has the sass and bitch you want to see in a true queen, who will do anything to keep hold of her starlet crown; and as the resident femme fatale, Jens Radda commands this intimate stage with a confident poise, fabulous vocals and her superb comedic timing.
But as you would come to expect, it is the stalwart of drag cabaret, Dolly Diamond who steals this show. Ms Diamond has been gracing our stages since 2009, and she delivers in unmistakable Dolly Diamond fashion. Her ability to read the room is quick witted, hilarious and this queen can bust out a tune with her powerful signature vocal.
A last-minute venue change has no doubt hindered the flow of this cabaret, with the cast having to navigate through a sea of chairs, and some unfortunate acoustic issues meaning some of the clever wit and chit chat is lost, but the distraction is more than made up for with the casts very energetic performances. There is a lot of fun and camp up on there on the bar Grouse stage.
With the MICF season sold out, get in quick if you can to snatch any remaining tickets for the 2 additional performances.
