Denim (Emerson Sanderson) and Pythia (Christos Darlasis) in “Oraculum”, Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
In all fairness, I’m not the ideal audience for this. I’ve never seen Drag Race, not in any of its incarnations. My unfamiliarity with the phenomenon puts me at something of a disadvantage here. I’m sure many inside jokes just flew right over my head. Pushing me even further out of the loop, I’d not heard of Denim and Pythia (Emerson Sanderson and Christos Darlasis), esteemed figures in the drag scene, and the creators of Oraculum, presented by Buddies In Bad Times Theatre.
The very slim story sees big-busted social media manager Kayleigh (Denim) navigating her upcoming marriage and a fraught friendship with the very high maintenance Matt (Pythia), an aspiring influencer and twinky opportunist. Struggling to get his brand “gape” (a bunch of cheap products with this outrageously suggestive name slapped on them) trending in the market, he’ll stoop pretty low to get his way.
As their drama unfolds, each of them gets televised confessional segments complete with funny, ever-changing title cards identifying them. Hilarious hashtags abound. The dialogue is stilted and the interactions are contrived, but people aren’t here for naturalism—a fact that ghostwriter Lauren Gillis and director ted witzel seem fully aware of. Everything here is unapologetically big, bold and brash.
Kayleigh’s comically glitchy sessions with an online psychic who goes by the name Madame P (Pythia really shines as this occult charlatan) lead into the drag lip-sync numbers which are the reason we’re all here. And they are gloriously extra. The outfits, designed by Pythia and Jaime Lujan, range from a garish neon pink lounge robe to a rainbow speedo. Amidst the campy gestalt, my favs include a red devil serving crimson Grinch realness and a sparkling suit with lampshade headpiece. It’s called fashion, look it up.
Designer Cosette “Ettie” Pin gives us an aesthetic fusion that screams Phantasmagorical Game Show Cabaret Nightmare. Massive arched panels topped with third eyes and filled with scrim provide a modular canvas for dynamic multi-media projections. Fluffy clouds, ominously backlit, echo the fabulously stormy antics below.
A roadside episode of gastro-intestinal distress adds some gross-out schtick to the already over-the-top shenanigans. An up close and personal little talk from Pythia about our tendency to steal glimpses of the future wherever we can is a clunky bit of thematic grasping and yet it is still surprisingly poignant.
Overall, though, I wasn’t in tune with this. Despite the ample talents of Sanderson, Darlasis and the whole creative team, I’m not invested in the world they’ve created and don’t find the specific characterizations endearing or relatable. Matt in particular was abhorrent to me. Based on the very specific Drag Race-shaped gap in my cultural awareness that this review reveals, I’m sure you can tell if this is your deal even if it isn’t mine.
Oraculum
running December 1 to 14, 2024
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander St.)
running time: 90 minutes (no intermission)
Pythia (Christos Darlasis) and Denim (Emerson Sanderson) in “Oraculum”, Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh