Live and in person at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto. Playing until Dec. 14.
Created by Denim and Pythia
Ghostwriter, Lauren Gillis
Directed by ted witzel
Set, projections and lighting design by Cosette “Ettie” Pin
Sound by steph raposo
Costumes designed by Pythia
Choreographer, Elm Reyes
Cast: Denim (Emerson Sanderson)
Pythia (Christos Dariasis)
Sasha Velour
Kaleigh (of multiple spellings) owner and creator of a PR firm and her best friend Matt, a wannabe influencer, social media devotee, bitch and giggle at the way of the world of drag queens, hashtags, and psychics.
Kaleigh is getting married to Brad, but she’s not sure if he’s the one. Matt drags himself away from his cell phone long enough to suggest she see a psychic about it and names the psychic—Madame P. Kaleigh sees Madame P, who subtly steers her away from Brad, among other things. It’s hardly a surprise at who Madam P really is. Kudos to Pythia for the clever and inventive costume design.
There are a lot of drag queen references (Denim and Pythia are celebrated Drag Race stars). The physicality, snappy patter, bitchy retorts and constant references to social media and its essence and ethos are bracing for those up on the lingo and the insider info and jokes. For those who are rusty Oraculum might be a bit (?) A lot (?) out of the loop.
Director ted witzel’s production is technologically complex, with digital backdrops of Madame P in full drag splendor and larger than life or imagination. Kudos to Cosette “Ettie” Pin for the Madam P projections. Kaleigh looks out to the audience with Madame P being beamed in through the wonders of pre-recorded video answering Kaleigh’s questions of life, Brad and what to do. There are constant references to hash-tag notation with the hashtag being projected on surfaces above door stage left and stage right. If only one could read them, they are so dimly lighted and fuzzily projected. Can Cossett “Ettie” Pin work wonders here? Please.
There is a lot of atmospheric smoke, lighting, directorial dazzle and a story and performances that need masses of attention. It’s great to cast real, celebrated drag queens such as Denim and Pythia, but this is a theatrical event and audibility is a requirement. And one could not hear them properly, and certainly Pythia who talks quietly and quickly. So quickly one can’t get the jokes or the gist. I guess friends who stab trusting friends in the back for fun, might be funny in some quarters, as Matt does to Kaleigh, but surely there is more to a story than this superficial rendering? A character who is glued to his cell phone waiting for the next influencer moment and his insecure, whiney ‘friend’ just don’t seem worthy of such a complex, complicated production, that one can’t clearly hear.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents:
Plays until Dec. 14, 2024.
Running time: 2 hours (no intermission)
www.buddiesinbadtimes.com