Review: Jinkx Monsoon & Major Scales: Together Again, Again

Drag royalty is in London as the winner of season 5 of RuPaul's Drag Race Jinkx Monsoon reunites with Major Scales for a new cabaret show, following their previous world tour The Ginger Snapped and Drag Becomes Her alongside BenDeLaCreme and Peaches Christ.

Both being no stranger to the world of theatre - Jinkx has performed in shows including RENT and Hedwig and the Angry Inch while Major Scales is the evil twin of Richard Andriessen who has written everything from award-winning New York shows on the east coast to music for amateur adult films on the west. Together, the pair have recorded two albums and toured around the world.

The concept of Together Again, Again is that it's 2065 (Season 14 of Drag Race still hasn't finished) and the pair are reuniting on stage for the first time in decades following a falling out. What transpires is a look at the future, sorry - the present, and all the things that have happened in the last 45 years. You'll either find that concept stupid or fun - whichever camp you fit in will really impact your enjoyment of the show.

Appearing on stage aged past their own years, Jinkx and Major perform original songs and musical theatre covers with some witty new lyrics while others are mostly in tact - numbers from Cabaret and Sunset Boulevard are among those to get the Jinkx and Major treatment, while a closing performance of '(You're) Timeless To Me' is surprisingly sweet. Other performances include a Gorillaz cover and their hilarious theme song from 'A Star Is Born 2: Afterbirth'. While the contents of the songs are mostly funny, it's not worth disregarding the sheer talent of the pair with Jinkx showcasing a fantastic voice and Major Scales accompanying on all the songs,

The dialogue throughout the show is wickedly funny, with real laugh out loud moments coming thick and fast. Sequences about the loss of Drag Race alumni in the future, and an overlong but always hilarious routine about Jinkx starring in a number of gender swapped movies are among the comedy highlights in this sharp and quick witted show. When they go off script, the humour is retained particularly with Jinkx chastising members of the audience for walking off in awkward moments and even one who dared to put his glass on her stage (Can more shows do that please?)

The subject of the bizarre future can verge on the surreal at times - particularly when they mention our Reptilian overlords which never seemed to land with the audience on the night. However, their hit rate for funny songs, brilliant one-liners and punchlines is pretty impeccable in a show that is written with precision and performed with excellence.

While it is a fairly short one act show, Jinkx Monsoon and Major Scales have once again proved what an unstoppable force they are together on the stage with Jinkx proving that she is an undisputed Queen of Cabaret. A brilliant night of fun and laughter - it was a joy to see them reunited. Let's hope it doesn't take another 45 years to see them perform again.

★★★★

Jinkx Monsoon & Major Scales: Together Again, Again is at Leciester Square Theatre until April 23rd. Tickets from https://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/jinkx-monsoon-major-scales-together-again-again/

They then embark on a UK tour from April 27th - June 11th