Some people are raised by wolves. Some people are raised by angry little women. Some people are raised by tall angry women, also known as drag queens. And then some people, like myself, are raised by club kids. To be specific, I was partly raised – on the club scene at least – by the star of last night’s show, Sexy Galexy. Yup, I didn’t have a drag mother…I had a drag father.
It was the late ‘90s come early millennia, a time when Perth’s gay scene was awash with a colourful smattering of post-rave club kids who are now international burlesque stars, like Empress Stah. Sexy Galexy was part of that crew. Her panache for make-up was unparalleled and she taught me how to transform into whatever I desired. For her, that desire to change was to embrace her inner man: both of them.
The premise of her show is simple: it’s an autobiographical account of how a girl from the 6025 hood can come to terms with being different. For Lexi, that difference was how to comprehend her place in a scene that still stuck to a gender binary, yet one skewed to accommodate the gay and lesbian aesthetic. But when you’re queer, you fall outside of those polarities…or, in most cases, span both.
‘Manliness: From The Angle of My Dangle’ is a sweet postcard home of a show. The sentiment in its construction is evident. Lexi has thought long and hard about who she is, where she has come from, and who it is she wants to become. These are topics we all struggle with – history can be rewritten after all – but she tackles her story with aplomb. In fact, it was touching and hysterical, insightful and thought-provoking but above all honest. And honesty belongs on the stage: for this Lexi should be commended.
There were some technical glitches on opening night, but they played in her favour. The head mic is an understandable touch, but when it failed operating, it opened up her character, forced her to project herself harder, and this made her more genuine. I say ditch the headset and use that brilliant voice you have to touch the audience: she certainly did last night.
There are plenty of sight gags and spot numbers to thrill and amuse. In fact, Lexi’s comedic timing is as sharp and on-point as it was when I first met her. Throw in a hilarious section about the nine different types of cocks one can encounter – complete with graphic yet humourous illustrations – and you have a Fringe show that makes you blush, whoop and chuckle in equal parts. Add then add the fact that you come away well informed and hey, it’s like you’ve been reading too.
Sexy Galexy is testament to the fact that a kid from the northern suburbs of Perth can go on to accomplish the strangest yet most wonderful things. And if that thing is becoming an international drag king superstar…well, all the more kudos. So when it comes to all things to do with masculinity, who’s your daddy? Sexy Galexy. She is mine after all.
‘Sexy Galexy in Manliness: From The Angle of My Dangle’ is playing at Conenctions Nightclub as part of Fringe World. Final shows are Friday Jan 31 and Sat Feb 1 at 8:30pm.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
