There are a few things I love to see at a drag show: puns, innuendo, music and polyester. In the new show Polly and Esther by and featuring Welsh drag stars, Polly Amorous and Esther Parade, you get all of that wrapped up in a funny, campy cabaret.
Somewhat inspired by how the two began working together in 2021, the show follows a journey between two drag queens: one, Polly, a well-seasoned performer and another, Esther, who is just beginning to create their drag identity. This dramatic arc adds a depth to the cabaret that propels it from just some late evening fun into a dynamic, theatrical two-hander.
We watch as the two create a drag performance that captures the attention of an executive attached to the fictional mega-product, MULK. In a hilarious interaction with a real-life audience member, who in a strike of their own genius opted to perform the script (handed to them by Polly) as a burly Texan accented American, Polly and Esther agree to become the face of MULK’s new campaign as drag mother and daughter.
The pair of them are a joy to watch. With oversized razors, mascara, and boards for costumes, it’s a hilarious and fun evening spent. The political anti-capitalist undercurrent tries to add a little edge to their show, but what really shines through is the fun that both are having performing together, and the fun that we, the audience, are having because of it. Polly and Ester have proven that as a dynamic duo, they can create wonderfully flamboyant and creative pieces of theatre. I can’t wait to see what comes next for this fabulous pair.
Polly and Ester has now finished its run.
Image provided by Pleasance Press Release
