After a brief hiatus, Drag Night Namibia returned to Windhoek with a spooky season spectacular, courtesy of Hause of the Arrivals, last week.
Fresh from starring in Haymich Olivier’s ‘Land’ and inspired by her recent World Pride feature in the United States (US), host and drag star Gigi Has Arrived took the stage for ‘House of Horrors 2’.
The Halloween-themed show featured a series of thematic sketches, lively lip syncs and dazzling dance performances by Hause of the Arrivals’ Starr, Bianca and newcomer Lemon.
“Drag Night has been somewhat silent, because many of us are going through a lot of stuff. But we’ve come back with more power, more energy and more attitude,” says Gigi. “Drag Night is a community, and once again people showed up.”
In fact, many people showed up in costume. While dressed up drag queens are par for the course, ‘House of Horrors 2’ was also an opportunity for audience members to don their most ghoulish garb.
On stage, the queens didn’t disappoint. Mixing camp sketches with energetic dance performers set to music such as Lady Gaga’s ‘The Dead Dance’, Qveen Herby’s ‘Bats in the Belfry’, and Doja Cat’s ‘Demons’, ‘House of Horrors 2’ also featured group performances of Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ ‘Unholy’, and an encore of Little Mix’s ‘Confetti’.
“We really rehearsed very hard for our show. I actually took a lot from what I learned on ‘Land’ and incorporated it into this performance,” says Gigi.
“Haymich taught me to really count the music and listen to what it’s saying. I got the girls to do the same, and that worked phenomenally.”
New to Hause of the Arrivals are drag stars Jennifer Has Arrived, who was haunting another stage, and Lemon Has Arrived, who made a fiery debut, worthy of a drag house known for its dance talent.
“Hause of the Arrivals is a house of concept. We told a story about Lemon trying to get into drag culture. She wanted to sign her name in the book of drag, but I shut the book in front of her and tell her you have to work for it,” says Gigi of an opening sketch.
“When it comes to the Hause of the Arrivals, we will always give you a story with a concept that you can follow. We’ll give you looks and then obviously we have performance energy that’s on another level,” Gigi says.
“So tonight, Lemon was giving you looks. She was giving you moves and all the angles you could ever imagine. I’m really proud of my house.”
Featuring make-up by Ethanz Makeup and a DJ set by DJ Rise Elders, Drag Night returned to the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre’s restaurant, formerly Café Prestige and now Le Roof, happy to be in an old haunt.
“We are haunting an old place here. It’s no longer Café Prestige, Drag Night’s original spot, but it’s a space that we’re familiar with,” says Gigi.
“I really feel so happy. I feel so liberated and celebrated, because I know the Drag Night audience has our back. I know that, when we organise something, they will always show up, and I just want to say thank you.”
High on the success of ‘House of Horrors 2’ and teasing a glittering December show, Drag Night Namibia is certainly back with a ‘boo!’.
– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
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