Wanted, Drag or Alive ★★★☆☆

Wanted, Drag or Alive ★★★

Wanted, Drag or Alive starts strongly, taking its Western-inspired “wanted” premise and cleverly spinning it into something much more personal: what it means to be queer and, at times, made to feel unwanted.

There is plenty to like here. This Edinburgh-local drag performer brings Scottish identity firmly into the room while exploring LGBTQIA+ experiences through dark comedy, storytelling and lip sync. The opening establishes the theme and tone well, but as the show progresses, the script begins to feel overly wordy. Some tighter editing and refinement of the individual stories would help maintain momentum and keep the audience engaged across the full hour.

The performance I attended was also disrupted by several audience members walking out — and not particularly gracefully. It visibly threw the performer, which was difficult to watch, particularly as the show had been finding its rhythm. Once they recovered and settled back into the performance, however, some of the strongest moments of the night emerged.

There are genuinely important LGBTQIA+ stories here, including perspectives that perhaps some of the more heteronormative members of a Fringe audience need to hear. The Scottish and local influences give the material its own identity rather than allowing it to become another generic drag hour.

And then there are the lip syncs. They are undoubtedly the star of the show. Performing an hour of solo drag without costume changes or reveals, relying largely on storytelling with lip syncs bookending the experience, is a tough gig. The final number absolutely brings it home, earning a standing ovation from the room.

There are also flashes of comedy gold, including the wonderfully filthy toast: “Here’s to love and honour. If you can’t come in her, come on her.” It landed exactly as you’d expect.

Wanted, Drag or Alive has real potential. Tighten the script, finesse the storytelling and iron out a few wrinkles, and there is a wonderfully distinctive Edinburgh Fringe hit waiting to break free.