Fresh out of Edinburgh Fringe, Ginger Johnson Blows Off! opened at the Soho Theatre’s main house last night. The evening written, directed and performed by the star herself also features sparkling new 80s-inspired songs by Bourgeois and Maurice. The opening night was greeted by Drag Race fans and fellow stars of the show, and with a string of Fringe raves, the expectations were set high for the reigning queen.
Pumping full of energy and verve, Ginger Johnson storms the stage with a mini kart and delivers a high-octane opening song Big Shot. Explaining that after her win she now is the ‘Pret’ not ‘Greggs’ of the sandwich shops, and how she’s always been the 7foot Lucille Ball. The show finds Ginger at crossroads, after achieving one of her dreams by winning Drag Race, she is left to find her next goal. Naturally she set her sights to become a daredevil, taking on silly stunts, orchestrated by her unfaced and nearly upstagingly funny stage manager Jen. The show culminates into the ultimate challenge: can Ginger become the human cannonball of her childhood circus memories? Will she board the giant canon, you have to see the show.
If the above hasn’t already given you the idea that the show is all over the place and bizarre you’re not wrong. It’s packed with camp, silly gags, fart jokes, comedy songs and pop puns, which makes it feel like a one long 70min overacted acting challenge from the famous tv show. Considering the tour has been running for over a month, it feels as if Ginger hasn’t quite found the groove yet and overcompensates with overdelivery. Ginger is highly rehearsed but truly takes flight in the improvised comedy bits with the audience, allowing her to finally relax into the show.
RuPaul has been on the lookout for decades for queens with charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent. Ginger certainly possesses the nerve, charisma and talent in this show but her uniqueness may have gotten lost in the overtly scripted goofball comedy.
This is a great show for the fans of Drag Race who want to get a couple of drinks and have a few laughs on a night out but only skims the surface of Ginger’s talents and heart.
Review: Jari Laakso