If you're looking for a quintessential drag show, with all the glitz and glamour paired with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour, then Heaven and Hell is the one for you. With this show you get layers of comedy, tight lip-sync, dance, tricks, and audience participation all wrapped in the signature burlesque-meets-drag style we have come to know from Beverly Kills.
The show has an overarching theme of religion but covers a range of different scenarios, from the quandaries of private school to the challenges of Sarah's bachelorette party. With solid comedic timing, the audience saw their own experiences in the stories being told, especially when it came to the pros and cons of Karens, Rachels and Ashleighs. The final monologue section was cut short the night I saw it, which was a pity, as the dialogue up to that point had flowed so naturally.
The reveals and costume selections through this show were well considered, and a beautiful example of how a variety of shapes and construction can really benefit a show. The music was well chosen, with the Purgatory section being my and my companion's favourite of the evening. And the addition of some circus elements certainly captivated the crowd. If anything, they could have been used more, as they added something beyond the typical expectation.
Some technical elements could have been smoother - it would have been nice to have had some more attention paid to the transitions between the sections, which felt somewhat like an afterthought at times - but the show cracked along at a whip-smart speed. Beverly kept the audience with her the whole way, and her crowd work was excellent. In the rounded venue of the Gold Digger, it's easy to neglect the sides by accident, but not here. Every section was covered and everyone was laughing, clapping, singing along, and for the lucky few, getting pulled up to join in some games.
The season may be over, but I'd head to the next Beverly Kills Presents, wherever and whatever that might be.