Queens
Summerhall
In “Queens” the historical figures Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I are two washed-up, undead drag queens. Together with Penthesilea and Valkyrie, they have been living a shared existence in Limbo for around 500 years. In the state of in between there were enough different sub- and parallel worlds for each of them to rule. Through an earthquake, the gates to the present now open. Confronted with their earthly past and in the face of unchanged patriarchal power structures, the idea of trying a joint regency suggests itself.
Anne Welenc celebrates her debut as a writer and director with "Queens". Previously, she was involved as an actress in transdisciplinary performance projects such as "All in" and "Traumgirl". "Queens" moves between opera, drag and drama and is based on critical feminist research into the queens Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I and their portrayal in German drama. In the blurb we are told: “It plays with their literary, historical and pop cultural heritage to allow new readings on the relationship between gender and power.”
Trashy drag with an intellectual edge is the vibe. It lands like a wide-ranging survey of possibilities. I found it fairly incoherent and because of that I am not 100% sure just how successful the work is and exploring its themes. But the costumes and makeup are excellent. The actors sing well – fortunately as it is billed as an opera of sorts. “Queens” comes to Edinburgh Fringe as part of the German Showcase and it’s always good to see what the Germans are up to!
Kate Gaul
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