Like Stevenson’s Rocket building up a head of steam, the heats for Drag Idol 2011 are racing along nicely, with venues across the country scouring their area for the best singers, comedians, dancers, drag artists and even magicians! After a series of keenly fought heats, we rocked up to the Two Brewers last Friday for the competition to select their entry for the semi-final on 10th June at the Black Cap. The ‘Brewers produced last year’s winner, so there’s a lot riding on this year’s contest!
The quick obligatory stop in the dressing room found it to be a hive of Blue Peter style activity and outfit creation with much sticky tape, paper and pins flying around as six drag queens fought for mirror space in their last minute primping and preening regimes. The four acts on display were all previous heat winners – so already a high level of talent – and they each had ten minutes to impress the four seasoned judges: Kelly Mild, Crystal D’Canter, Andrew Keats and former Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Christopher Wellbelove.
First up was Priscilla Bling with a scary special effect riddled homage to Katy Perry and a clever interactive three-way DVD girl group where she played all the parts.
Next up was an absolute breath of fresh air for the drag circuit, a live singing and comedy set from Son Of A Tutu, a visa over-stayer and illegal immigrant from Lagos, Nigeria. She played on the prejudices we have about immigrants and Nigerians in particular with some great comic banter and altered song lyrics, even managing to squeeze in a topical reference to super-injunctions! Genius.
Third on the agenda were Super Trashy, a mixed live and mime comedy singing act from Manchester with Gaga, Winehouse and more.
The fourth and final act was Asifa La Whore, the diva from Karachi, who almost didn’t make it as she had another gig elsewhere before! Rather than just ripping in to them, the judges gave great constructive feedback about content, outfit, style and talent before rightly choosing Son Of A Tutu as the winner and Two Brewers’ representative in the semi final.
As always, an otherwise erratic show was brilliantly held together by Titti La Camp, who also performed some of her own numbers including the fan-bloody-tastic Alexandra Burke rendition of ‘Hallelujah’ perched, stocking footed, atop a wobbly ladder with 15 foot wooden wings strapped to her back. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. Those new comers have a lot to live up to.
114 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UJ
Words and photos by Chris Jepson
