Welcome child! Do you have a question for Madam P? Let’s consult the cards, shall we?
Canada’s Drag Race stars Denim (Season 4) and Pythia (Season 2), will guide you on a journey of self-discovery with their new theatrical work Oraculum. Directed by ted witzel, Oraculum is part traditional theatre, part drag show, and as thought provoking as it is entertaining.
Kayleigh has built up her own PR empire called Second Chances. Having recently saved her bff Matt (an influencer and “entrepreneur”) from his own PR nightmare, as well as juggling demanding clients and getting her wedding planned, Kayleigh is pretty worn out. At Matty’s behest, she seeks out the advise of a psychic, Madam P, for some help and advice from the cosmos. As she begins to question more and more about her life, and therefore rely on Madame P for those answers, Kayleigh begins to notice that not everything might be as good as it seems.
Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
Oraculum is rooted in the fads of the late-night phone psychics of the 90’s, mixed with the toxic influencer culture of today. However, the script is also rife with Drag Race references and jokes. They mention queens by name, but also some of the more iconic meltdowns and memes from the show. One of my favourites was in a scene where Kayleigh is trying to figure out who she wants to be going forward, they have her on one of those paper doll style websites, and all of the options for the doll are Denims looks from Canada’s Drag Race! It was such a brilliant touch and easily recognizable for the Drag Race fans in the audience. However, there’s also plenty of current references built in as well, like the Pink Pony Club and Ariana Grande holding on to Cynthia Erivo’s finger in an interview (look it up, it’s rather sweet). This speaks to the heart of drag, as drag queens are not only wiling to take shots at themselves (or one another), but also are the keepers and preservers of pop culture, and bring that all to life on stage.
Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
It was fabulous to get to watch Denim and Pythia do their thing and lip sync throughout the show; each song connected so well to the reading that Kayleigh has just received from Madam P, while also forwarding Kayleigh’s character growth throughout the production. The themes and costumes presented during these numbers are astonishing: I think my favourite was where Kayleigh was dressed as a moth and Madam P was a lamp. The overall symbolism was beautiful and the costumes themselves are exquisite. Pythia’s designs for the costumes in this production are absolutely next level: they bring this stunning world of magic and mysticism to life. (On a personal note, I’d give ANYTHING to have a robe like the one Kayleigh wears in this show).
Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
The other design element which absolutely needs to be recognized is the projections throughout the performance. Cosette “Ettie” Pin’s set and projection design combine to create one awe-inducing spectacle after another. The set itself looks like three giant tarot cards, with clouds floating between them. The tarot cards have screens in them which both allow us to see through them, and also be projected on. The first time that Madam P suddenly takes over all three screens for a reading, the whole audience gasped; it’s a stunning moment which truly feels like magic.
Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
Denim and Pythia have clearly poured their whole beings into this production. Denim is hilarious as Kayleigh; her charm totally comes through in this character and Kayleigh has such a kind and forgiving disposition that it’s impossible not to be on her side from the beginning. Watching Kayleigh change throughout the play allows Denim to showcase her abilities not just as a drag performer but as an actress as well. Pythia pulls double duty as Matt and Madame P. Her recorded performances as Madam P are fantastic; lots of Miss Cleo vibes for sure. Matt turns out to not be a very likeable character, yet Pythia certainly digs her claws into the meat of Matt’s being. The two of them have great chemistry in all aspects of their performance; you can tell that they love working together and having built this show from the ground up, you can see all of their hard work and dedication to this piece displayed on stage.
Oraculum is taking an underground art form and bringing it into the above-ground world of theatre. Personally, I think this needs to be done more often. Not simply because I adore both art forms, rather it’s because they are both equally exciting art forms and should be treated as such. Oraculum is a cautionary tale about searching for answers outside of ourselves, rather than trusting that gut feeling when it tells us things are wrong. Exemplifying Buddies’ theme of “Queerness is Divine Mystery” we’re asked to find that divinity within ourselves just as Denim and Pythia have as well.
Oraculum runs at the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Chamber space until December 14. For more information and tickets, visit: https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/show/oraculum/
Cover Photo: Denim. Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
If you’d like to hear my interview with Denim and Pythia, you can check out my podcast: https://aviewfromthebox.net/a-view-from-the-box-the-podcast/
Thank you to my Patrons:
N. Bushnik, B. Kinnon, D. Moyes
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Angelica and Paul, Anonymous, Adrianna, and Caitlin
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