Jonny Woo: Drag-glam in sequins and beards

by SHARON LOUGHER
Metro
15th July 2008

Photo at foot of page

Jonny Woo The bearded Jonny Woo has made no bones about his intentions to liven up the drag scene. His last show was a lip-syncing saga about Jay Aston from Bucks Fizz, and he follows it here with something so subtle and so lacking in tawdriness and bitchiness that it blurs the line between drag act and performance art.

International Woman Of Mr E starts with a highbrow quote from Shakespeare's own camp character, Richard II. 'Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings,' says Woo, dressed in a smart suit that hides a gold spandex leotard.

Actually, Woo is here to discuss the death of a (drag) queen: after two decades of partying and drugs, Woo's body shut down, he had a near-death experience and wound up fallen from grace. Woo tells this personal story via music, poetry and spoken word, and relishes playing with lyrical forms - one euphoric poem about the drag queen at her rampaging peak recalls Faithless's house anthem Mass Destruction, while Peter Piper Picked A Peck Of Pickled Peppers becomes an ode to pill popping.

Later, that gold spandex is the butt of a funnier joke than you'd expect - replete with football socks and stilettos, Woo tranforms into a faddish 'sports kit tranny' bringing back memories of Flo-Jo. Surreal diversions help the ebb and flow without detracting from the fact that this is funny, sophisticated and memorably bittersweet.

Until Sat, Jul 18, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street W1, 9.30pm, £12.50 to £17.50. Tel: 0870 429 6883. Tube: Tottenham Court Road

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