It’s not every day that one gets to meet stage royalty. In that respect, drag shows offer a unique opportunity to connect with multiple monarchs at once. I’ve always been intrigued by drag, but had never attended a live show. I voted for drag diva Shangela on the reg when she performed on “Dancing with the Stars,” and I’ve watched “Queer Eye,” Season 2, Episode 5 with Skylar Jay, who performs as a drag king, at least 20 times. But I’ve never seen “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” so I was not prepared for the awesome spectacle—the rainbow jubilee—that was the Spring Fling Drag Show.
What
Attending a drag show at Superfly Brewing Co.
Why
To experience the fabulousness and athleticism of the drag performers.
How it went
Images from the Technicolor dream of it all still fill my mind.
Walking up to Superfly’s entrance with a friend, the vibe felt electric. As we entered and got situated in our booth, we thought some folks at the bar might be performers because they slayed hard in vibrant outfits and shoes you can’t wear if you’re afraid of heights. The retro aesthetic at Superfly delighted the senses, from the pale-blue Ford tailgate mounted on the wall, to the bowling alley-esque decals on the booth tables.
The DJ played loud music that energized the room, while people danced vigorously in open spaces. Folks hit the bar hard, sampling Superfly’s signature brews and, as anticipation built, joy and a sense of play permeated the venue. Ages ranged from 20- to 70-something, our desire for fun uniting us.
Host and performer Katja Attenshun opened the event, looking super-glam in a silky, knee-length, emerald-green dress. In a touching moment, she praised events like the Spring Fling for being positive experiences that bring people together and show support for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I don’t know if Ms. Attenshun was just glittering us up, but she also praised the Charlottesville crowd for always being very welcoming to her and her castmates.
Then, she taught us the two rules of drag. The short version (which will be far less funny than hers) is to applaud often and enthusiastically. It’s free, and it really fuels the performers. The second is to tip. When she reached that second rule, a bunch of us newbies (myself unfortunately included) had that “Oh, crud” moment of not having cash on hand—but we figured it out with the help of kind folks at the venue. Pro tip: If you’re going to a drag show, remember to bring cash in small denominations. Those queens work hard for the money, so you know how you better treat them…
Y’all, let me just tell you, I was gobsmacked through the entire performance. Each of the cast of five queens performed twice, complete with a costume change in between. I haven’t enough words to describe the spectacle adequately, but I’ll give you the gist.
Each performer’s garb and styling varied, just like their performances. Every act was a feast for the eyes—some favored classic Hollywood glamour, while others went for pop or punk stars’ edgier looks. Some leaned harder into the lip-synching, while dance reigned supreme for others. The boots and pumps—oh, my. I’ve never seen so many thigh-high boots at once, and I’m better for experiencing it. The boots provided both style and support because those queens performed amazing moves. The death drops! The splits! The amount of acrobatics the performers did, on concrete no less, gave my inner Italian nonna such a worry—and blew my mind. Leaving the event, my face hurt from smiling so hard for so long.
Superfly Brewing Co. was super fun at the recent Spring Fling drag show featuring Katja Attenshun. Supplied photo.
