REVIEW: They Will Be Kings
- Michael DiGuglielmo (they/them)
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
When you head to Qtopia to see a show you can be assured of two things - it’s going to be very good, and very gay. Which is to say very good twice, but I digress. In the world of flashy, zany, theatrical representations of queer experiences, Drag Queens are often seen as the cream of the crop - and as such, they often frequent these showcases of queer talent.
When I got the opportunity to watch They Will Be Kings and see for myself how Drag Kings showcase their own, unique experiences with gender and sexuality, I practically leapt at the chance - and if you’re reading this review, you should leap at it too.
Four fantastic icons of the stage come together to showcase four unique journeys which intersect - and eventually collide - in strange and hilarious ways that showcase all the fantastic elements of honing a unique gender identity, as well as some of the pitfalls that await along the way.
What exactly does it mean to call yourself a Drag King, or an enby, or masc? Are these prescribed notions that force people to carry the baggage and weight behind each gender identity? If you call yourself an enby are you forced to act as a synecdoche for every nonbinary person, representing them and who they are? Believe it or not, two Kings named Chase Cox and Fine China actually do a very good job unpacking this very notion, alongside Dario di Bello and Jim Junkie.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - the best plays stray that line between abject sadness, side-bursting comedy, and something genuinely thought-provoking. Going against the gender grain is something that plenty of shows at Qtopia do, but no show does it quite like They Will Be Kings.
Pick a night to see this show, and let yourself fall into a world where the excruciating binary of what makes a man and what makes a woman bleeds away into something hilarious, poignant, and utterly unique. Don’t miss out on this show, it will stick with you for a while.
Catch They Will Be Kings performing at QTOPIA until 21st Feb! Click here to get tickets!
