Sad Boys Luv Art | Baby Blue

Dance, drag, costume, and performance come together in Baby Blue’s Sad Boys Luv Art. The show is a journey through male femininity that seeks audience interaction and reflection. Thalia Novela leads travellers through a fantasy world, with each new location introducing a new mythical creature. These magical entities are portrayed by Luna Thicc, Brandi Doll, Bailey Strothmann, Crimson Coco, and of course, Baby Blue.

Image + cover image: Jade Ellis

Throughout the experience, the audience was encouraged to answer questions and interact with the performers. This aspect reminded me of pantomime and other interactive forms of theatre. Upon entering the world of fantasy, each audience member was asked what mythological creature they would be, and later we were asked to close our eyes and imagine our fears. Barriers were broken throughout the show from gender to the audience and performer divide. Two separate performances had the audience stand on the stage as we watched the show take place on the seats in front of us. The interactive and immersive nature of the show was its standout feature. I wish the audience had been louder; shows like this need audiences willing to yell, snap, and shout. So please remember to scream for your queens and applaud your performers.

The diversity of the cast extended to their talents as each performance highlighted varying art forms. Thalia Novela was a great host, with an even greater sense of humour throughout the journey. The performers were all outstanding, Crimson Coco was stunning and captivating, Luna Thicc gave an incredibly powerful performance, the makeup of Brandi Doll was as mysterious as it was magnificent, and Baby Blue was provocative and enchanting. However, the standout performance for me was by Bailey Strothmann, whose performance had them dance through a spiderweb as their body was tangled and engulfed by movement and web.

Image: Jade Ellis

The concept of bringing together different forms of performance to celebrate male femininity was ingenious. By taking us into a fantasy world, Baby Blue showed us a dreamlike ideal world in which the masculine and feminine play together harmoniously. Each performer embodied their own unique relationship with male femininity. The diversity in performance meant that the show was not only a drag show, not only a dance performance, not only a cabaret show; but rather something unique inspired by the disciplines of its cast. The show highlighted the breadth of individual expression and reminded the audience that masculinity and femininity can be liberating rather than restricting.

This was Baby Blue’s first production, and it was made through Backbone's new artist in residence program. It is always exciting to see an artist's vision for the first time, and it will be exciting to see where Baby Blue goes next.