Faaabulous! The Show Flyer – Photography by Karlos Rivera, Graphic Design by brienmccreastudio.com
FAAABULOUS!
FEMALE IMPERSONATION AT ITS FINEST
By Samuel Novak
Those who think that RuPaul’s Drag Race is the beginning and end of drag culture only know a fraction of its history. With their outrageous antics, wild costumes, and lip-syncing performances, the contestants on that popular program have more in common with Britney Spears than an authentic female impersonator. Fortunately, an entire generation of fans can discover the true art of drag with FAAABULOUS! The Show.
Fast-paced and totally tongue-in-cheek, FAAABULOUS! The Show is the brainchild of veteran performer Christopher Kenney. You might not recognize that name, but you’ll most likely remember his alter-ego “Edie,” the longtime host of Cirque du Soleil’s ZUMANITY. Statuesque Edie embodies the timeless elegance of starlets like Brigitte Bardot and Ann-Margaret. So, it comes as no surprise that FAAABULOUS! The Show is similarly loaded with sass, class, and a few naughty laughs.
Joji Darling, Kitty Delmar, and Vita Summers perform during Faaabulous! The Show – photo by Samuel Novak
Along with emcee Edie and her pair of sexy male dancers, FAAABULOUS! The Show features four top-of-their-game female impersonators who share one vital thing in common: the ability to sing live! Yes, there is no mimicry here…no lip-syncing to pre-recorded vocals. The “ladies” are gifted vocalists who dance, tell jokes and interact with the audience throughout the roughly 70-minute running time. And they’re the only drag production in Las Vegas in which ALL of the singing is authentic.
Since opening in March, FAAABULOUS! The Show has featured a rotating cast of queens, ensuring that every visit is unique and full of the unexpected. The current line-up (as of this writing) includes talented pianist “Sunshine” (Joe Harter), former Miss Fire Island “Vita Summers” (Ashton Shawver), vivacious artist “Joji Darling” (Jourdan Ibe), and Shakespearean actor Keaton Delmar Johns as “Kitty Delmar.”
Vita summers and Kitty Delmar perform during Faaabulous! The Show – photo by Samuel Novak
The wonderfully-skilled cast clearly enjoys playing off each other’s character traits, trading good-natured barbs between colorful production numbers. They each get the opportunity to shine in solo spotlights as well. Songs like “It’s Raining Men,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and the title tune get the “FAAABULOUS treatment.”
Potty-mouthed granny “Junebug” (Brooks Braselman) visits the show via “Zoom” in pre-taped segments that will leave you in stitches. There are nods to divas like Diana, Tina, Whitney, Aretha, then Edie and the boys throw a ‘60s beach party that would make Frankie and Annette proud. One outstanding highlight is an amazing Barbra Streisand/Judy Garland-inspired duet that alone is worth the price of admission.
Sunshine and Joji Darling perform during Faaabulous! The Show – photo by Samuel Novak
The co-creator of FAAABULOUS! The Show is Jamie Morris, another prolific entertainer on the Vegas scene. A one-time writer for Cirque du Soleil and actor in “Tony and Tina’s Wedding,” Morris can currently be seen in “Puppetry of the Penis,” an adults-only comedy playing at Erotic Heritage Museum in the Vegas Arts District.
FAAABULOUS! The Show performs Fridays at 8 pm at NOTORIETY Live in Downtown Las Vegas. 450 Freemont St. Ste 380 Las Vegas, NV 89101. Downtown (702) 472-7514
The Cast of Faaabulous! The Show – photo by Samuel Novak
Faaabulous! The Show – Graphic Design by brienmccreastudio.com