If someone asked me to think of the campest British show possible, I think Princess Di performed by five different drag queens would have to top the list.
The Diana Mixtape is a new show created by Christopher D. Clegg at Here @ Outernet. It features a range of UK and international Drag Queens playing Princess Diana, it's Courtney Act, Divina De Campo, Rosé, Kitty Scott-Claus and Priyanka.
To premise the show, the cast celebrate the life of life and times of the ‘People's Princess' with big pop hits, dance numbers, and plenty of gags along the way. The brat inspired branding sets the precedent for queer pop anthems throughout the show.
We also get to see Noel Sullivan (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, UK Tour; We Will Rock You, UK Tour), as ‘King Charles III' and Lucina Lawrence (Cool Rider, London Palladium; 9 to 5 The Musical, The Savoy Theatre) as ‘Queen Camilla', so yes, there really are three of them in this marriage.
If you want a show to try and compare this to, think of Six. It's five of the same Princess jaded by their Prince and making their own history.
What works about this show is that each of the Drag Queens get their moment to shine. This is a showcase of talent and personality, and the cast clearly respect each other, when they sing back-up for one another they don't try and pull focus.
With the show being titled ‘a mixtape' you could assume it would just be song after song, but there were moments of storytelling weaved between the numbers that turned this showcase into a jukebox musical.
The show takes a moment to find its footing, but when ‘Poison' starts the show changes. Camilla emerges as the show's villain and the choreography hits its stride.
With ‘Angel of My Dreams' performed by Rosé, the show ascends higher, everything turns up a level in quality. Rosé's number works because not only is it tailored for the target audience of this show, but it also works perfectly for Rosé's vocals.
Now the show has its rhythm, the energy continues to build in ‘Cut to the Feeling', and we get to enjoy tongue-in-cheek numbers such as ‘Mother' by ‘Queen Elizabeth II' performed by Keala Settle.
The show is full of comedy and each Drag Queen has their own bit that fans know and love. That same eruption of enthusiasm happens whenever there's a mid-song costume change too.
The Diana Mixtape crescendos with ‘So What?' as the royal couple split, and when it's time for the revenge dress, the vocals layer well in ‘Freakum Dress'.
Each Queen as Princess Di get to perform a stellar number whilst wearing the iconic revenge dress. Priyanka is serving princess whilst performing ‘Boss Bitch' and truly owns the stage in that moment.
Just before the finale, there's a poignant moment. The cast reference Diana's time on earth is almost up, and the queer anthem ‘Pink Pony Club' adds and drives that emotion with stellar vocals from all the Queens.
As they say in the show, Diana really would have loved a camp romp about her life and judging from the reaction to ‘Shout Out to My Ex', the audience loved this show too.
The Diana Mixtape is curated for the fans of queer pop-music from the past two decades. A few changes to the setlist would really help early on in the show, (‘Edge of Glory' was just too high), but every song served the narrative.
It was a well-crafted drag show that showcased the potential of quality drag theatre production. What really let this show down though was the sound mixing, and I cannot stress enough how frustrating it must be for both cast and audience when key lines can't be delivered as a result.
Attendees should go for their love of Drag and the promise of an entertaining evening, because on both counts it hits all the marks.
The show continues its limited run at Lowry in Salford 19-24 August, following its London premiere at Here @ Outernet (28th July-10th August). Tickets available here.
Review: James Dix Photos: Harry Elletson