by Steve Desroches
For drag queens these are the best of time and the worst of times, to paraphrase Charles Dickens’ opening line in the novel A Tale of Two Cities. It’s particularly fortuitous with the success of the cultural phenomenon of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which gives viewers access to drag they may have no other chance to see, and in turn gives cast members previously unavailable opportunities for exposure. However, the downside is many who say they are fans of drag only know it through the show and expect to see their favorite moments recreated on the stage, often ignoring those queens who haven’t been on Drag Race. But there is clearly a concerted effort to harness the power of this moment for the art form—and it is an art—to take drag to completely new heights of creativity and imagination.
BenDeLaCreme’s Inferno A-Go-Go is a marvelous performance representing where drag can go, as it is witty, inventive, original, and smart. The show is based on Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, the first part of his 14th-century epic poem that chronicles his journey through Hell, with this version’s guide being BenDeLaCreme herself, taking the audience through the nine circles of eternal damnation. Doesn’t exactly sound like the usual, light summer fare in Provincetown, does it? Fret not. While the source material might elicit memories of high school English class, Inferno A-Go-Go is a sizzling marvel that surprises every bit as much as it entertains.
From beginning to end, BenDeLaCreme weaves together such a compelling piece of performance that it stuns the mind. She tightly braids a variety of elements of drag, burlesque, comedy, video, social commentary, and theater. She masterfully demolishes your expectations right from the beginning by blowing your mind wide open so as to be ready to receive something so fresh and new that the audience on this sold-out evening sprang to its feet in an earnest standing ovation.
BenDeLaCreme realizes the full potential of drag in Inferno A-Go-Go. Long before she was Miss Congeniality on season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race and a stand out on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, BenDeLaCreme was performing here in Provincetown, first as the host of the Atomic Bombshells burlesque show and then going solo. It’s testament to Provincetown’s long-standing drag performance scene that she’s returned here each summer to present her latest show, with Inferno A-Go-Go being a masterwork. Expect to be dazzled, charmed, thrilled, and even challenged, as BenDeLaCreme drags you through Hell to take you to church. If you are a fan of drag, appreciating it for its unique voice and perspectives, as well as its ability to speak truth to power while making you laugh, then Inferno A-Go-Go is a must see.
BenDeLaCreme presents Inferno A-Go-Go at the Crown and Anchor, 247 Commercial St., Provincetown, Wednesdays through Sundays until August 5 at 7 p.m. For tickets ($30) and information, go to the box office, call 508.487.1430, or visit onlyatthecrown.com.
