That’s Drag Bingo takes your granny’s favourite gambling addiction and adds some zhuzh by throwing in the occasional dance break, lip-synch competition, naff prizes, and a whole lot of innuendo, smut, and silliness. Resplendent in a bright orange lampshade skirt, blue corset, and nine-inch pink furry platforms, the aptly named Orange Gina takes to the stage to rapturous applause. The applause is admittedly pre-recorded and played by assistant DJ Husband, but that’s OK because this drag queen is all about bringing her own hype to the party.
The perfect way to close out your night
In the past I’ve bemoaned the Drag Race influence on the UK scene and this show feels like a direct response to that complaint. Orange Gina is clearly a product of both sides of the pond – the US glamour and grind are there, but there’s a fair bit of UK slap and tickle in the presentation. The lip-synching is much more about having fun than ‘working it’, and the only bitchiness on display is served up entirely for laughs.
On arrival we are issued with bingo cards and pens, but instead of just random numbers being called out any sort of weirdness can happen and be marked off. For example, I didn’t know I needed an inclusive re-write of YMCA in my life but I’m glad I got to dance along to it. The audience join in enthusiastically and the tunes and sound effects delivered by DJ Husband keep the energy high for the entire hour. In the end the bingo is dealt with and we move on to the true finale, a lip-synch battle between four ladies plucked from the audience. After kitting themselves out with ratty wigs and choosing their drag names - ‘Missy Delight’, ‘Lady in Bed’, ‘Lady Muck’, and ‘Sacrificial Clown’ – a T-shirt is awarded to Miss Sacrificial Clown, who shows that it’s possible to be the best at lip-synching without actually knowing the words.
I saw That’s Drag Bingo on a relatively quiet Monday night. I’m sure that with a packed-out crowd ready to party after a day at the Fringe this will be the perfect way to close out your night.
