By Jon Keller – Published July 28 2014
Australian performer Sunny Drake’s one-man show “X” closes out a trio of performances tonight as part of this year’s Queer Arts Festival at the Roundhouse.
In the hour-long spectacle, Drake employs everything from stop-motion animation to puppetry while portraying a conversation between a young girl and her friend. The characters struggle with sexual identity, addictions, their obsession with Kylie Minogue, and their relationship with parents.
Having transitioned from a female to a male, Drake spent 18 months creating “X” as a personal tale of his transsexuality and the methods used to cope. The play is far from a downer though. Drake’s work is honest, but also whimsical and accessible. The subjects tackled are serious ones, but the performer is endearing to watch. With his happy Aussie accent, he pulls off his one-man show with dramatic skill and humour, creating a truly unique hour of LGBT performance art.
An artistic blend of this kind is rare to see, and Vancouver’s burgeoning Queer Arts Festival is the place to see it. The final performance of “X” is tonight.
Queer Arts Festival 2014 Presents “X”
When: Monday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
Queer Arts Festival 2014: ReGenerations
When: July 23 to August 9, 2014