At last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, I was lucky enough to review Aunty Ginger’s highly entertaining show I Consent. So, I was excited, if a tad nervous (what if it didn’t live up to last time?) to go and see Finding Splashman. I’m thrilled to say that I was not disappointed. Aunty Ginger is as engaging, sassy and stupendously fun as ever. This time round, she’s hired a director, and it shows. Mikey Smith brings an element of fluidity to the performance that was slightly absent last time. Now her hilarious gags and segments, including ‘Aunty Ginger’s Problem Area’, in which she solves all kinds of explicit sexual problems, flow seamlessly from one another. It no longer feels like she’s jumping from sketch to sketch, but rather a complete performance.
Another welcome addition was the introduction of parody songs. Her performance opens with a wonderfully inappropriate version of ‘Holding Out for a Hero’, which set the tone perfectly; both in the crude humour and the numerous audience interactions. On a side note, don’t attend this performance unless you’re willing to have everything from your sexual preferences to your shoes made fun of in front of the entire audience. One of you may even end up on stage to assist Ginger in a certain ‘demonstration’, but I won’t give too much away here. The songs lent an element of spectacle to the show, lifting it from an entertaining comedy to a true drag SHOW.
This spectacle is boosted by Ginger’s superb appearance. Her fantastic ginger wig is complimented by her stylish black dress and heels. Expertly applied eyeshadow and lipstick give Ginger a look that is equal parts mischievous and scandalous. You don’t know what she’ll say at any moment, and she thrives on that. In fact, there were multiple moments where Ginger chuckled at her own jokes. These were highlights in the performance because, as well as Ginger having an infectious laugh, it demonstrated just how much she was enjoying herself. Not only is this no mean feat when Ginger’s having to perform (in a car park) every night, but her glee at the outrageousness of some of the jokes is essential to creating the desired atmosphere for the performance.
The ending was perhaps the only aspect of the show I had a gripe with. While I Consent ‘climaxed’ with a hilariously filthy cabaret number the audience all had to partake in, Finding Splashman finishes with a final parody song/rap. What exactly this number was I’m sadly unsure, asI found it very difficult to make out the lyrics. When the rest of the show did such a brilliant job of engaging the audience, I would have enjoyed a more inclusive end that closed the curtains in style.
Nonetheless, Finding Splashman is raunchy, risqué, and raucously fun. If you’re looking for a drag show that ticks all the boxes, you really can’t go wrong with this.
Reviewer: Ben Pearson
Reviewed: 5th August 2024
North West End UK Rating: