A night of naughtiness, raucous laughter and pure queer joy, Student-run drag show Sly landed with a bang on the 25th of April in the Student’s Union. The university’s first-ever drag show and held in support of Mind Mental Health Charity, Sly’s triumph represented a landmark feat for Cardiff’s queer communities.
Creative polymath Josh Salisbury created, hosted and performed as a part of Sly. Since late January, Josh has put months of tireless work into refining every inch of the show. He commented “Sly’s cabaret-esque approach worked really well, especially for an audience experiencing the show as an introduction to drag, because it really let the range of drag performance and their individual styles speak for itself.”
I took the liberty/risk of taking a front-row seat (I had been warned about audience participation), whilst the room filled up to well over 100 heads and an expectantly giddy buzz filled the air. As the reddish pink lights glowed onto the stage and swirled over me I felt like I was in some kind of drag cauldron, as if some spell was about to be cast over me. By the end of the show, I was indeed spellbound.
As the opening video flashed onto the screen, a hush fell over the audience. Before our eyes flickered a 2001: A Space Odyssey-esque expertly curated montage of images and clips of drag culture’s quintessential touchstones. Flashes of Paris Is Burning and John Waters’ Pink Flamingos gleamed and crescendoed before our eyes as an honourary homage to the art form’s rich cultural legacy, stirring up anticipation for the night’s upcoming treasures.
Swaggering onto stage, hosts Sylv the Sloth and Just Toby electrocuted the room with a sickening rendition of The Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Shut Up’, animatedly lip-synching along in synchronisation with Slash’s hair flicking middle finger flipping sass. Their opening comedy set featured some characteristically raucous and daring jests at the audience, and the pair continued to spark off each other throughout the night with a chemistry that was both meticulously polished whilst still appearing improvisatory and spur of the moment. Josh reflected “I think we had a really great audience. The tone felt right – which was lucky – but also, to credit the people involved, it wasn’t coincidental – they definitely created that atmosphere.” Indeed, the pair read and responded to the audience whilst simultaneously challenging and gagging them by whipping up audaciously provocative snapbacks.
First up in the running order of local performers was Cardiff-based performer Ivory Glam; her captivating voice suddenly resonated across the room as she processed from the back with a soaring live rendition of ‘Rain on My Parade’. Followed up with an unexpected but fittingly camp and buoyant rendition of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’, her set was playfully peppered with her characteristically provocative and quick-witted interplay with the audience.
Next to take the stage was Sar Chasm, who despite being a relatively new Drag King on the scene, shined just as bright as all the others. Sar began with a moving performance of slow country rock, ‘Boy Crush’, which was audaciously (but fantastically) juxtaposed by a sensual rendition of ‘Do It Like A Dude’, which in classic drag tradition involved the (perhaps surprised) participation of some lucky front rowers. Diva Divine followed, sashaying onto the stage with sunny joy and charm, hilariously tributing Cilla Black’s iconic ‘Surprise Surprise’. Cheerfully prancing around in a canary dress of tulle that was pulled in at the waist, a surprise nipple sighting added a pinch of camp naughtiness to an otherwise endearing and joyful performance.
My Liege and Capri’s ingeniously hilarious telephone medley followed, which carried the storyline of being unable to reach someone via phone call, as the stage was separated into two halves to represent the physical split between the two. The pair demonstrated a mastery of physical comedy, with Liege’s fiesty mannerisms and Dewi’s powder party themed baking schtick pushing the crowd into fits of hysterics. Liege’s gorgeous rust-tinged reflective jumpsuit cast shimmering reflections out from under the stage lights, as Dewi’s flipped and shook her curly bob like a strangely suburban Blondie in drag.
Following the interval was CU’s very own hip-hop troupe Slash, with ‘Beyoncerella Goes to The Clrrrb’, a visionary interpretative reinvention of the classic Cinderella fairy tale. The routine possessed the theatricism of any great melodrama, whilst, as usual, flexing their immaculately rehearsed moves through their slickly coordinated group formations. Dazzled and starry-eyed by Slash’s uniqueness, nerve and talent, I found myself equal parts tickled and emotionally afflicted by performance’s genuine propensity for interpretative storytelling.
Next in the lineup was Myst Fortune – her fiery passion was as red hot as the love hearts that adorned her face and artfully exposed body-ody-ody. She descended upon the stage like a draggy love child of Valentine and Cupid, shooting an arrow straight into our eyes as the audience fell in love with her. Popping and contorting her body like an elastic band, Myst teasingly peeled away her black leotard to reveal a tantalizing nude bodysuit decorated with three cheekily placed sparkly hearts.
For a fierce finale, Chloe Luxx exploded onto the stage with as much energy and power as a firework. Only 18 years of age, Chloe served as much victory and command over the audience as any seasoned drag queen. Her mesmerisingly dynamic and lively Britney Spears medley was truly a spectacle of wild energy and passion (I was worried that all her death drops were going to rip her fishnet tights). Following Chloe, Sylv reentered the stage to close the show. She had held the audience in the palm of her hand all night, and she beamed out into the crowd for a final time to wish everyone good night before making her way over to Kings nightclub. As she should.
Sly reminds us how the craft of drag is centred around celebrating pure joy as each artist reverberaetd off audience energy to cultivate raucous, organic glee. Josh exclusively teased that another show could possibly be in the works. “We’re really desperate for Sly to return” he said, “October time and I are exchanging flirty glances”.
The Kings and Queens were sparkling all night. An exciting and promising new drag show, Sly was a fearless masterclass in performing Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent (if you know, you know).
Words by Julia Bottoms
Photography by @pjjphotograph and @Rhysreviews