Review: Dragtime! Presents: Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun

Our hosts Psoriasissy and Twink Again introduce the show and (strongly) encourage the audience members sitting nearer the back to come to the front rows. Despite being about Halloween, this might have been the scariest thing about the show – I was very glad to have been sitting nearer the front already. Soon we’re on to our range of performances for the night, from the likes of Beelzechub, Justa Knight, Elektra Phoresis, PG Tits, Dysphorian Gray, Twink Again and Psoriasissy. Even though the names are fantastic, I have to say I was expecting a Dragula somewhere in the mix. 

The first performance involves comedy and a song from Beelzechub, which was absolutely hilarious and really got the crowd going. Another highlight was Dysphorian Gray’s lip-synching, which had a Victorian gothic vibe and culminated in them bringing a member of the audience up to the stage and pretending to cut them up like a mad scientist. If you’re not a fan of audience participation, though, don’t be worried: The hosts make it clear from the start that you don’t need to get involved with anything you’re not comfortable with, which is much appreciated.  

Image credits: Dik Ng

Perhaps the most impressive and memorable performance was Psoriasissy’s pole dancing act, which was a genuinely breathtaking routine with some seriously impressive physicality, both on and off the pole. This was integrated with a reflective monologue voiceover linking gender identity to the monstrous: “I am a transexual and therefore I am a monster”. It was an unexpected direction for the show to go, taking on a more serious tone than other acts, but it was really beautiful. 

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There were certain elements of the show which felt a little less prepared than others. Some of the intervals between acts where our hosts talk to the audience felt a little directionless and were not always related to the theme of Halloween, which would be nice to tie everything together. In a similar vein, Twink Again’s performance as a tampon didn’t feel very closely related to the theme, and I personally would be hesitant to imply period blood is scary enough to put in a Halloween-themed show. Still, the audience really loved it and the costume change from white to red was very well done. 

Image credits: Dick Ng

Credit has to be given to the lighting designer for some of the best lighting I have seen in a show at Cambridge. Every act had its own unique lighting, like Elektra Phoresis’ lip-synching, which featured some absolutely mesmerising strobe lights. A very liberal use of the fog machine also helped enhance that spooky, sexy vibe that Dragtime! does so well.

So, was Dragtime! a trick or treat? A treat, of course! The audience were clearly having a great time and enjoyed engaging with the cast, which is quite impressive for opening night on a Wednesday at 11pm. The hosts made sure that everyone there were active participants in the show, which certainly added to the fun atmosphere. Dragtime! Presents: Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun was a scarily good time, and the perfect way to celebrate Halloween! 

4/5

Dragtime! Presents: Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun was showing at the ADC Theatre from Wed 30th October – Sat 2nd November.