Review by Steve Desroches
From the moment Roxy Pops, Qya Cristál, and Delta Miles bound onto the stage in the Cabaret at the Crown & Anchor in the drag revue DIVA, you know the show is something special. Drenched in black and gold, the drag pop trio does something that in Provincetown is a remarkable achievement, which is to distinguish themselves by creating a spirit and character uniquely their own in a town that for about 100 years has been home to drag performance of some sort. That’s incredibly hard to do considering the sheer volume of drag in Provincetown not just in the summer, but year-round. But they have done it with three powerhouse voices, individual styles that complement one another while giving room for co-stars to shine, an energy that blasts off the stage with vigor and glitz, and most of all a moving kindness and generosity to the audience that is intoxicating and genuine.
The name of the show, DIVA, is an acronym standing for “daring, independent, vivacious, and ambitious,” taking what has often been a pejorative term aimed at a woman perceived to be difficult and turning it around into an aspirational ideal. First and foremost, DIVA is a drag concert, with all live-singing packaged with dynamic choreography and an interaction with the crowd that instantly manages to both energize and put at ease. DIVA debuted last summer and returned this year with all-new pop musical offerings, including “Respect,” “Bang Bang,” “Beautiful,” “Run the World,” and “River Deep, Mountain High,” a show-stopping number delivered by Delta Miles. But what remains the same is the message within, encouraging all to embrace and love themselves. It works so well because the sincerity is palpable. And the vibe it creates in the room is worth the price of admission alone.
Where DIVA really stands out though is in the vocal performances. There are those drag performers—fabulous drag performers—who sing in a manner that is comedic in device or theatrical in delivery. And those shows are great in what they offer. But Roxy, Delta, and Qya are each fabulous individual talents who show frequently that they are more than capable of commanding a stage in a solo pursuit. Part of the spirit of DIVA is that you get to watch three friends uplift each other and the joy it brings to see a friend succeed while also being able to shine yourself. There’s no competition, but rather a pursuit of excellence in which the performance is a smash by encouraging everyone to do their best. That’s a winning combination that takes work both on and off stage, and it’s part of the magic of DIVA.
DIVA: This Is Your Anthem is at the Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial St., Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 7:30 p.m. through September 17. Tickets ($35/$45) are available at the box office and online at onlyatthecrown.com. For more information call 508.487.1430.
