By Kendell Yan
If you haven’t been to a Sleepy Girls Show yet honey, then get those slay bells polished and sissy on down that snow-dusted lane to The Blenheim (Formerly the Displace Hashery) on December 17th because this is one you aren’t going to want to miss.
Since January, Dust (AKA David Cutting) has been hosting The Sleepy Girls Show once a month with a rotating cast of some of Vancouver’s most talented drag performers including Peach Cobblah, Rose Butch, Shay Dior, Misty Meadows, Ilona, Dee Blew, and Maiden China (yours truely). Each episode of the show has a different theme, ranging from “One Hit Wonders!” to “Sleepy Girls Save the World,” the latter being a fully scripted narrative theatre experience.
Sleepy Girls cast photo courtesy of Chase J Hansen
This month, Sleepy Girls will be another scripted show, this time with a holiday twist! “X-MAS: Days of Christmas Past” is a musical romp in the style of A Christmas Carol but with a very queer and comedic spin. The story sets off with Dust retelling a true story about going home to see a problematic family over Christmas, hilarity ensues, there are Christmas ghosts and a medium. Yes, it’s all true. I guarantee it.
Because the venue is an all-ages space, they’ve managed to create an environment that makes space for youth to participate in the drag community, and the stage has seen the debut of many new queens, some of which are still completing their high school education. This is a crucial part of the show. The privilege of creating opportunities for queer youth to express themselves in front of an accepting and encouraging audience is unparalleled and empowers children to grow into their identities on and off stage.
To find out how Dust resolves her family anguish over the holidays, and how ghosts can be the embodiment of holiday hoopla, you’re going to have to come down to the Blenheim on December 17th and enjoy the show! Special guests include Gluttony, Peah Emm, and Anita D, with music by DJ Girl Fieri. Pizzas are half price (bless!) at 8:30, and the show starts at 9:30 for just $10!
What: X-Mas: Days of Christmas Past
Where: The Blenheim (Formerly the Displace Hashery), 3923 West 4th Ave
When: December 17th. Dinner at 8:30pm. Show at 9:30pm.
Why: Because the holidays are for musical romps, carb loading, and using makeup to cover up our discomforts and grievances at family affairs.
Kendell Yan (aka Maiden China, Mx Cobalt All Star 2017) is a queer, second-generation POC who navigates the hyphen of mixed ethnicity LGBTQ2+ living in Vancouver. Kendell has a penchant for drag Queens and Kings that borders on obsession, and he favours events that encourage free expression, inclusivity, and love in all flavours.
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