Note: This is a review for the 2021 UK Tour of Death Drop. 

Starring Ru Paul’s Drag Race legends Willam, Ra’Jah O’Hara, Karen from Finance and the UK’s very own Vinegar Strokes, Death Drop is killer comedy that is set in a mysterious mansion  in 1991, as group of rather flamboyant and unique guests gather for a dinner party to celebrate the 10th wedding anniversary of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. With plenty of hidden secrets and shady behaviour, the ferocious finger pointing and savage speculation begins as one-by-one each guest is murdered. 

The show is on the final week of their UK tour following a smash-hit run at the West End’s Garrick Theatre, with Vinegar Strokes (Lady Von Fistenburg) reprising the role that she originated. She is joined by Willam as faded pop-star Shazza, Ra’Jah O’Hara as meteorologist Summer Raines, Karen from Finance as journalist Morgan Piece, Holly Stars as The Bottomley Sisters (I will refrain from revealing their names so as not to spoil numerous jokes within the show) and drag kings Richard Energy as Rich Whiteman and Georgia Frost as Phil Maker.

Everything about the show is exactly what you would expect from a cast of Queens and Kings. It’s camp, silly, over the top and ‘in-yer face,’ from the individual performances to the costumes, set and the songs performed throughout (Oopsie Whoopsie being particularly memorable). The show is written by Cheshire-born cast member Holly Stars, and, as a fellow northerner, there was plenty of relatable content that made me feel a little nostalgic, although I will never quite look at a Finders Crispy Pancake in the same way again. 

While the show is scripted, some of the moments that gained the biggest laughs were the ad-libs that happened throughout, and the cast were clearly having fun with each other. Similarly, there were a few moments with the audience – Vinegar Strokes stopped mid sentence to say “bless you,” followed quickly by “wear a mask” when an audience member sneezed. 

Anyone who follows the blog or my social media will know that I have been super excited about this show, particularly after I was able to have a chat with cast member Ra’Jah O’Hara a few weeks ago. Ra’Jah promised that there would be lots of twists and turns, and she wasn’t wrong. The show is filled with plenty of plot twists and reveals that keep the audience guessing almost to the very end. 

If you’re a fan of all things drag, this is the show for you. 

Death Drop is on stage at The Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 27th November. Get your tickets here.

Images by Matt Crockett.