Delivering the campest stunt show known to man, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK champ arrives at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Pleasance Courtyard with her solo show Ginger Johnson Blows Off. Ginger utilises audience interaction, deliciously camp silliness, and high-energy musical numbers to deliver a punchy evening of entertainment.
Ginger Johnson has conquered the world of Drag Race but is now set to achieve an aim she has long harboured—to become a world-famous stuntwoman. Crafting a variety of high-energy comic stunts, Ginger takes on trampolining, Russian roulette, and cannon firing in her quest to become an all-out daredevil.
Emerging onto the stage after a powerful voiceover, Ginger is clad in a pink Evil Knievel-inspired jumpsuit and spins into action on a jazzed-up mobility scooter. It’s camp and brash, exactly what we would expect from the opening of a Ginger Johnson show. Bursting into a musical number about being a daredevil with a rock edge, it’s clear that Ginger has vocals to match her comic chops.
The first of Ginger’s stunts involves Mentos, a can of Coke, and a trampoline. A sound boom hovering over Ginger’s rear should give audiences a sense of where Ginger is going with this one—however, amusingly, issues in the sound booth prevented the flatulating sound effect from emerging. Ginger handled this like a pro, utilising it to true comic effect. When the technology is rectified, the punchline is even more effective, with a little pyrotechnic surprise added in for good measure.
Fear fills the audience as Ginger is armed with a torch from her frowning mute assistant; the drag queen scans the crowd on the hunt for the bravest person in the venue. No one is safe as Ginger navigates through the centre of the ‘compost heap’ to find a brave young woman to assist in her Russian roulette game. Five confetti cannons—four packed with confetti, one filled with drawing pins—create some genuine moments of peril, yet Ginger packs these with comedy, sharing amusing statistics as the odds of a drag queen-drawing pin collision grow closer (e.g., 1 in 5 Spice Girls is a Tory, 1 in 2 Jedwards are called Edward).
Saving her most dramatic tour de force for the final act, Ginger’s impressive stunt budget arrives in the form of a huge prop cannon, which the star proclaims she will fire herself from—an ode to her circus inspiration Zsa Zsa. The skit makes way for a sombre musical number after Ginger has been put through the wringer as a result of her plethora of stunts. Ginger delivers all with a knowing camp, nudging and winking along with the audience before heading to a triumphant, feel-good finale.
There’s a genuine sincerity as Ginger closes the show—the star truly appreciative of her ability to play these venues and find recognition for her art form, showcasing an immense appreciation for her audience. Ginger’s success is truly well deserved, and Blows Off is a jubilant and delightfully silly showcase for her talents.
Ginger Johnson Blows Off is a joyous celebration of camp, comedy, and drag, delivering a wildly entertaining mix of stunts, music, and audience interaction. With her signature wit and charm, Ginger’s solo show is a triumphant display of her talents, leaving the audience in high spirits and fully appreciating her unique artistry.
Tickets for Ginger Johnson Blows Off are available here.
Lead photo: Paul Madeley