Performance Review: Week of Welcome Drag Show

To round off Week of Welcome (WOW), the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU) hosted a drag show in the Myer Horowitz Theatre. And if you weren’t there, you missed out on an incredible show. The performances were truly top notch.

The show started with Pepper performing in an Oscar the Grouch costume. A garbage can has never looked so good. Her energy set the right tone for the rest of the show. Pepper didn’t just perform either, she was also the host of the night. Her jokes and praise for the other performers kept the show running smoothly and without any lulls. 

The Horowitz Theatre was graced with Canada Drag Race royalty, Tynomi Banks. Her first performances were largely ballads, but nonetheless captivating. Then, she brought out the back-up dancers and took things to a whole new level with the choreography and energy. 

The local legend Pheromone Killz’s numbers were some of my favourites, though it’s hard to choose. She brought neon, dancers, and a whole lot of talent. The choreography was insane and the back-up dancers deserve some props for their part in the numbers. There was a whole lot of sass and the energy was through the roof.

Emmonia, another local performer, brought a little scare and incredible costumes to the stage. And she sure knows how to make an entrance, coming from the back of the theatre and with a little light shining on her face. The moment she spread her wings — literally — and really got into the performance was amazing. 

For her later number, she brought the muppets and The Substance together to make one bizarre, incredible costume. It had my jaw on the floor. Her costumes were definitely a highlight, but her performance can’t be understated. 

The queen who quite possibly takes the crown, if only for her endurance and stamina, is Nearah Nuff. She performed several songs, doing the splits, cartwheels, and plenty of other things that hurt my body just thinking about them. Somehow, Nearah Nuff never slowed down. And then came before to do more. 

I’d say this is probably the best performance the Myer Horowitz has ever seen, and will probably see for a while. Though, they did tease wanting to come back for a Halloween show. The UASU would be foolish not to let them come back again.