Writer: Nancy Brabin-Platt
Director: Lois Brabin-Platt
Queer, fun-loving teenager Maxine is wrestling with her identity, proud of her femininity and fed up with the misogyny and homophobia she and her friends experience on a daily basis. By creating her alter-ego Drag Diva, she is able to take control and block out the drama, saving her friends and standing up to her closed-minded mother in the process.
Nancy Brabin-Platt (Maxine) is wonderfully engaging. Although the only person on stage, she does a great job of embodying a variety of characters, from uptight mother to gobby Northern best friend Ruth, each one is easily identifiable and interestingly portrayed. As well as performing, this show is also written by Brabin-Platt; with a clear message of being comfortable with whatever gender and sexuality you choose. The rejection of stereotypical ideologies of only men being able to partake in drag is the beating heart of the storyline, amplifying the ironic misogyny that occurs when women are occasionally shut out from being able to explore and embrace queer culture. By interspersing humour alongside heartfelt feelings, the narrative is well-received by the audience.
Director Lois Brabin-Platt brings the creative vision to life, elevating the fun from Diva with a variety of lip-sync performances to further separate both sides of Maxine’s diverse personality. The high-energy lip-syncs are performed with confidence, with Brabin-Platt’s infectious enthusiasm lifting the atmosphere in the audience. These cutaways, although often sudden, accompany the monologues well, with the lyrics tying into the previous scene with ease. The soundtrack that is used to segway these scenes into each other is strong, sassy and startling, perfect for alleviating any tension and re-vitalising the energy in the room.
This is a fun show, with a strong message, all performed within Ellie Campbell’s visually enticing stage design. With a fabulous rail of outfits and wigs, and TVs scattered around periodically playing clips from a variety of TV shows and movies, it’s an interestingly creative backdrop, to a uniquely engaging storyline.
Runs until 19 November 2022
