Lyric Theatre – 10th October 2023
Reviewed by Ben Jolly
4****
Trevor Ashley’s powerhouse voice and personality are fundamental in Ashley’s ability to bring the house down and even though the Queen of the Universe competitor didn’t snatch the crown in the last season of the singing competition reality show, she proved to us last night that she is a winner regardless.
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Trevor Ashley has had a long and varied career performing in drag and in and out of drag in the Musical Theatre world down under, and it shows. Years of treading the boards have honed the skills and technique it takes to perform a full and varied one-woman show in front of a live band and proscenium theatre. This is a polished and sleek show of ballads, up-tempo megahits and just a dash of self-deprecated storytelling.
With a full and supportive band of eight members behind her, Ashley’s show raises the bar in comparison to some drag acts knocking around these days. A clear conception had been designed and new material written – a lot of attention to detail for a Monday one-nighter but it paid off in full. Ashley gave us a medley of divas to enjoy throughout the evening which ran over two hours including an interval for costume and wig changes. Ashley’s voice is big, brash and a dominant force, it may not be one you would choose to listen to wind down on a Sunday afternoon and there were some raspy vocals and breathy intonations throughout. However, the voice is only a condiment to the main dish, Ashley’s larger than life personality and outlandish humour.
Of course, no Trevor Ashley show could go on without an appearance from Liza. Ashley’s act has now become synonymous with her rendition of the global superstar’s onstage persona and musical hits and it was truly a pleasure to witness. Vocally and physically, this is where Ashley shines. Having announced that they will be moving to London in the not-too-distant future, I will be eager to see what else Ashley has up her sleeves to entertain audiences over here; and after teasing us with the possibility of a Liza Christmas special, Trevor Ashley has certainly only left us wanting more.