Drag queen, queer, trans, drag king...if any of these terms interest you, you'll want to see the documentary A Night at Switch N Play, that flows and examines the Brooklyn based drag and burlesque collective, who seem to be a bunch of loving and lively misfits who have found each other and have created one of the best acts outside Manhattan. I have seen them several times, and there shows are not to be miss. From the hottest milk man routine you'll see from drag king K James, or a giant stripping Twinkie from Divina GranSparkle, to a terrifying fetish dentist in rubber gloves, spitting loose teeth into the audience by Nyx Nocturne. The performances range from laugh out loud funny to characters worthy of a horror movie, but even the edgiest personas have a message.
Switch and Play and it's array of performers has won the title of Best Burlesque Show four years running...and the documentary makes clear that the artist are interested in moving forward with both drag and burlesque, subverting many of the assumptions one might have about both genres. In addition, they stress the feeling that everyone in the room- performers and audience, are in a safe place where they can do some exploring, subverting and defying the rules of social acceptability, while being seriously entertained...Burlesque can be sexy, sad, hilarious, grotesque, and tender.
But the best part of this group for me is their diverse group of acceptance, and the crossing the spectrum of the LGBTQ...the kinship is on full display in the docu, which tells each members story, and features footage of their subversive and captivating acts. Like I said, drag king K James could take his sexy milkman striptease on the road and singlehandedly save the dairy industry. Or the high glam and retro, bio queen Miss Malice...who is the femmecee of their shows. Divina Gran Sparkle grew up Muslim, moved around a lot in her youth, living in four different countries and seven cities before she was 18. Once in NYC, it took six years of gigs for her to find a place to call home and a place that would accept her outlandish acts of a woman doing a drag. That home was the old timey honky- tonk bar in Prospect Heights where she first performed with the drag collective in 2015.
The troupe is rounded out by Drag King, K James. Miss Malice, the groups bio queen femmecee, drag/bulesque "queerdo" Nyx Nocturne, drag artist, Pearl Harbor, nonbinary drag king Vigor Mortis, and the snake charmer-stage kitten Zoe Ziegfeld, and sometime rounding out the group are performances with the legendary Sasha Velour and Louisiana Purchase. While it might be the common goal of producing the most outrageous show in the city, it's their lewd, unhinged theatrics that have led them to real life epiphanies.
Their bonds transcend the work. Watching the film you get the sense that their self assurance and audacity were hard won- that after so much time peering in from the outside of the LGBTQ community looking in, where acceptance wasn't always easy. but now they are all accepting and they're now thriving on the inside. It's like they've finally found all their people from their spaceship. Makes me wonder why this group can make it work, yet as a community we can't accept all? Long live Switch N" Play
And their show from 2020- Vamp. I am obsessed with Miss Malice, always have been, but her performance of Dream a Little Dream of Me got me.
Oh, my GAWD.
ReplyDeleteThe gaggery of it all! Totally watching this. Queer performers who give a taste of the many flavors talent has need to be supported. Thanks for heads up!
And has there ever been a better name than Vigor Mortis? Ever?
XOXO
I thought you may enjoy them. You'd love there shows and must likely the docu. They really are gag worthy!
DeleteI agree with you. Why can we as a people not be accepting of everyone? This group proves it can be done. And those were some performances. I love to find groups like this. And I can see why your obsessed with Miss Malice, she is stunning. I would love to see this documentary.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with Broadway, but give me these little venues more so.
DeleteI have always been attracted to people who are "different" from the so-called norms. They make life, and art, so much more interesting and challenging and fun.
ReplyDeleteNow that and they were incredible!!!! I have heard of them. Now I want to go see them for sure. And what great style they all have. I love theater like this. May they long wave their freak flags.
ReplyDeleteI adore artist collectives like this... I was part of one once... but it ended in disaster. We were all too immature. These folks have it together and are laser focused. And they're willing to subvert their lives for this... as in, this is their life. Live or die for art, MF! That's the way it should be. Thanks for sharing this. Makes me think there are pockets of evolution in this mucky mire we all stuck in. I love that they dare and care not... risk is art. To defy is art. Adore. Kizzes.
ReplyDeletePockets of evolution...so far and few between! And I love the dare and care not about them. And Miss Malice's style!!!!
DeleteArt becomes better by taking risks. Try something. It may fail, but if you learn from the failure, the next will be better. Keep at it and you end up with these folks. Excellent!
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my eyes peeled for this doc!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as one recently back from the dentist, the idea of a fetish dentist spitting out teeth does set MY teeth on edge. I am not sure I am ready to watch that act.
ReplyDeleteLMAO!!!!!
DeleteWhen I have more time I'll watch the video.
ReplyDeleteWow! I was hoping I’d be able see the documentary here. And then I discover that your link is the entire thing. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFinding all the people from each other's Spaceship is Priceless, since universal acceptance is slim for those from the outside looking in, regardless of which Tribe we happen to identify with best. This is a Documentary I'd love to see, thanks for Sharing it Mads.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes feel we blogger are like finding people from out Spaceships. And Im glad I found you!
DeleteDitto my Friend! Mwah! <3
DeleteLove that opening picture, you can tell they are living their best lives. Kudos to them!
ReplyDeleteLove all these babes! And Divinia and Miss Malice, there wigs kill!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! I wanted to comment earlier, but wanted to watch the video. Now that is one artistic show! And I too loved Miss Malice's routine with the Doris Day song. They are quite the collective! Thanks for sharing this Mistress.
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