Theatre is back for 2021! And for one week only, the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s bustling West End has managed to smuggle in a fan favourite from Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Of course, I am talking about the Texas doll herself, Miss Alyssa Edwards, who is currently performing in her one-woman show: “Alyssa: Memoirs of a Diva”.
Marking her West End debut, “Alyssa: Memoirs of a Diva!” is a whistle-stop tour of drag excellence as we dive into the whirlwind lifestyle of the dancing diva herself. With stories about her time on the hit TV phenomenon, her own Netflix series “Dancing Queen”, lip-syncs and more rhinestones than Priscilla’s tour bus, this show contains all the glitz and glam any drag fan could hope for, while also introducing us to the individual behind the glitter foam wig and lashes.
From the minute the curtain went up, it was clear that we were in the hands of a seasoned, professional entertainer, and in for a highly entertaining evening, packed full of goops, gags, and giggles!
The show had a simplistic, yet effective and stylish set, and included multiple costume changes, all of which were as extravagant as the last. Alyssa was joined on stage by four dancers throughout the show, and collectively they delivered high energy, dynamic, and fresh sets of choreography during each lip-sync and interlude, created by the up-and-coming star, and lockdown legend Austyn Farrell. The show is jam-packed full of infamous quotes and fan favourite moments and references, that is bound to have any Drag Race fanatic reminiscing, laughing, and living! Despite this, it was in fact the sections where Alyssa occasionally went off script and improvised throughout the show that generated the biggest laughs and responses.
The show was well-paced, contained a wide variety of genres and content, and ticked all the boxes you would expect when purchasing a ticket.
If you are a fan of the franchise or an Alyssa Edwards fanatic, don’t miss this opportunity to grab a ticket to her spectacular one-woman show. It is instant light-hearted relief, that will leave you feeling more glamorous than Ru Paul herself! And let’s face it, we all need that handful of sparkle during these challenging times. But you better act quickly, as she is only in town for a limited time. So, what are you waiting for?! Forget about snatching the crown, the only thing you need to snatch this Pride Month is a ticket to “Alyssa: Memoirs of a Diva!”.
Review by Adam Tipping
Rating: ★★★★
