2026 Fringe Review: ‘The Late Great Mormon Drag Queen’

It can be a lot of pressure to be the 15th son of a Mormon prophet, especially when you’re shy. But worry not, the solution lies in a simple gown and wig!

The Late Great Mormon Drag Queen, written and performed by Steven Morton, dives into the life of Brigham Morris Young. The fourth Brigham son of a Mormon prophet in Utah, Morris quickly learns that preaching isn’t his strong suit. After a little bit of peer pressure and shenanigans from his best friend, the drag persona Madam Pattirini is born.

The version of drag in the play is a lot different than what the modern-day audience may be used to. There’s a lot less makeup, heels, splits, and Lady Gaga songs. But Madam Pattirini shines in her purple gown regardless. Morton shines even brighter in his performance.

The moment Morton stepped onstage, he had me hooked. In a very simple, very Mormon outfit, he began the play with a song about Morris trying to find his place in the world. So shy, Morris can neither preach nor solicit customers in his candy store, he starts the play as an incredibly earnest and restrained character.

When he steps into the role of Madam Pattirini, both Morris and Morton totally transform into someone else entirely. The musical numbers of Madam Pattirini throughout the play had the audience hooting and hollering. Morton’s voice and stage presence were fabulous to watch. He infused humour into nearly every scene.

Morton did an incredible job bouncing between characters all on his own. It’s easy for a performer to get swallowed up in the task of playing an entire cast by themself, but Morton did it wonderfully. Still, his best moments onstage were as Madam Pattirini and Morris.

For a story about a cross-dressing diva in the 1800s — in the Mormon church no less — the show maintains the perfect balance between levity and internal struggle. Morris is drawn to the stage in his drag persona, but is tugged back by his obligations to his family and church. These tensions expose a real tenderness in the play, but it doesn’t fall into a doom-and-gloom story of repression and intolerance. Instead, it offers an incredibly hopeful and accepting look at a Mormon drag queen. It was quite touching and healing to watch.

Morton is a fabulous storyteller, and an equally gifted performer. If you only have time to go see one Fringe show, this one is guaranteed to be a good time.

The Late Great Mormon Drag Queen is on at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival until August 22.