Vancouver Men’s Chorus’ popular drag show is back in New West

For some of us, the world of drag queens and performances is often limited to a long binge of the American reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race on Netflix. But here’s a chance to see some of Vancouver's best drag queens perform live. 

Vancouver Men’s Chorus, Canada’s first LGBTQ choir (founded in 1981), is bringing its annual fundraiser Singing Can Be a Drag to New Westminster’s Anvil Centre this weekend. And unlike the usual drag performances which depend on skilful lip syncing, in this show, all the queens will, in fact, be singing live. 

The last they performed in town was in 2020 — just when things were beginning to get hairy around the world.

Humphrey Tam, a member of Vancouver Men’s Chorus who has previously been part of the show both as a performer and a producer, recalls the particular night as one that was “weird”. 

Despite the news of the pandemic looming like a monstrous cloud, they performed to a restricted crowd of 250. In the weeks that followed, they were struck with panic, recounts Tam. They anticipated calls from audience members who might have fallen ill after coming to their show.

Thankfully, none did. 

Nevertheless, the chorus members called that show “the last show on earth” — for they weren’t able to perform for a long time after. In fact, this weekend’s performance will be the first in New Westminster since that eventful night in 2020.

"So, it's a big deal for us," says Tam.

What's new this year at Singing Can Be a Drag?

This year, audiences can expect an extra dose of glitz, glamour, and energy, promises Tam. Besides the group’s popular queens such as Aya Keane, Elaine da Nundah, Francesca Hunty Parks, Gae Ping Ho, Hedda Nipplegate, Ida Downe, Whore-ia Estefan and Wanting Moi, there will be a few newcomers as well. 

“With not having been able to perform due to COVID, a lot of them have this itch to perform now,” Tam adds with a laugh. “They (the queens) finally have had the time to sew their own outfit, practise songs and think about concepts, and so on.” 

According to one of the producers of the show, Mikey Van Nen, some of the new acts include those by Lady David Browning — “a star-studded composer in the VMC (Vancouver Men’s Chorus), who will sensationalize with her smooth, scintillating sound”; Julinor — a diva with a soulful sound who’ll make her debut at the show; and Anita Drive, whose heartfelt, emotional performance will have you reaching out for your tissues.

Singing Can Be a Drag started off as a tiny fundraiser about 15 years ago.

“Back then, we had to beg people to perform,” says Tam. With just a handful of queens willing to put on a show, one queen had to do more than one act to fill the one-and-a-half-hour duration. 

Over the years, it has grown in terms of production size, talent, quality of costumes and the fun factor. In fact, some of the performers have even branched out to doing their own regular gigs in the community — and today, the chorus has a hard time fitting all the talent into one show.

At this Saturday’s show, as many as 18 members from Vancouver Men’s Chorus will be performing.

Tam, who has been part of the show since its fledgling days, guarantees that there will be a good mix of comedy, elegance, and outright craziness — all neatly divided into two acts with a break in between. “Just so that people can take a break, grab a drink and stop laughing for a bit.” 

CHECK IT OUT

WHAT: Singing Can Be a Drag 2022, presented by the Vancouver Men’s Chorus

WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, July 16, 8 p.m. at the Anvil Centre Theatre, 777 Columbia St., New West, and Saturday, July 23, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Annex Theatre, 823 Seymour St., Vancouver.

TICKETS: General admission $40, patron tickets $70. Buy at Vancouver Men’s Chorus website.