DRAGTACULAR
Velour at the La Jolla Playhouse subtitles itself “A Drag Extravaganza” and for 105 uninterrupted minutes it validates the label with a smorgasbord of song, dance, film, projections, animation, circus stunts, and narration. It’s primarily a one-person show but if any entertainer can shoulder such a load, it’s the inimitable Sasha Velour, who has carved out an international career as a drag artist for all seasons and all talents.
Velour starts out primarily as the star’s autobiography, beginning in infancy. Early in life it was established that Velour had a gift for drag performing before the child even knew there was such a term. By the time Velour was a teenager she had established herself in the drag world as a performer, eventually ascending to the lofty plateau of the great RuPaul, winning RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2017. At La Jolla, Velour encases herself in a gaudy skintight outfit of golden sequins, singing and talking as she swings high above the stage. She is accompanied by colorful and clever visuals, mostly abstract images and designs.
There is never a dull moment on or above the stage, whether comical or dramatic; and are there ever surprises! I didn’t realize until after the show that the singing was lip-synced. I was sitting in the second row and it all sounded live. And, late in the performance, Velour turns the stage over to three performers — Ezra Reaves, Moscato Sky, and Amber St. James — who morph into a trio of dynamic singers and dancers. It is this terrific mini-show within the larger show that leads into the finale with Velour.
The full house at my performance included a significant percentage of viewers who whooped and clapped at every drag reference. There obviously was a large representation of drag followers who recognized the inside material that may have gone over the heads of neophytes. What did grab me throughout was the sense of pride and realism that elevated Velour’s performance. There is no self-pity or embarrassment from the stage. She recognizes she is what she is and lets the good times roll.
This world premiere is directed by Moisés Kaufman, a major figure in American theater and co-founder of the Tectonic Theater Project with critically praised credits that include The Laramie Project, I Am My Own Wife, 33 Variations, and Gross Indecency. He and co-writer Velour make quite a team. At my performance, the show stopped for 15 minutes soon after it began because of unexplained backstage issues and a music cue was dropped shortly after the show resumed, but Velour covered for the disruptions so smoothly that the trusting audience could have accepted them as peculiar parts of the show.
The brilliant designers who clothed the production in a fantasia of visual invention are headed by David Rockwell (scenic design), Diego Montoya Studio (costume design), Amanda Zieve lighting design), Palmer Hefferan (sound design), Cosette “Ettie” Pin (projection design), House of Velour (video design), Angela Phillips (aerial design), Stephen Oremus (music direction), and Ann C. James, credited as a sensitivity specialist, a position one would love to know more about.
All in all, a special viewing experience that is both rousingly entertaining while being thoughtful and educational.
photos by Rich Soublet II
Velour: A Drag Spectacular!
La Jolla Playhouse
a co-production with Tectonic Theater Project
Potiker Theater, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Tues-Fri at 7:30; Sat at 2 & 8; Sun at 1 & 7
ends on September 15, 2024
for tickets (starting at $30), call 858.550.1010 or visit La Jolla Playhouse