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# REVIEW: Alyssa Edwards- Memoirs of a Queen
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/review-alyssa-edwards-memoirs-of-a-queen/
- Published: 2021-06-09T12:17:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-06-09T12:17:00.000Z
- Description: Brian Butler gets swept up in the glitz and glamour of a Southern belle
- Author: Brian Butler
- Tags: Arts, Cabaret, Comedy, Dance, Musical Theatre, Out & About, Queer Corner, Reviews, Television, Netflix, Vaudeville Theatre

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-a-queen-1600.png)](https://www.gscene.com/arts/review-alyssa-edwards-memoirs-of-a-queen/attachment/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-a-queen-1600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

Photos by Pamela Raith

If there isn’t enough glitz and glamour in your post lockdown life, then you need a dose of Alyssa.

She’ s a specially made-up potion of fun, sass, downright rudeness and amazing dancing talent. The shy boy from Mesquite , Texas – **Justin Johnson** – has grown into this extravagant, outrageous showgirl that is taking a small corner of the West End by storm .

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-a-q600.png)](https://www.gscene.com/arts/review-alyssa-edwards-memoirs-of-a-queen/attachment/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-a-q600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

Photos by Pamela Raith

Alyssa rocketed to fame in Season 5 of **Ru Paul’s Drag Race a**nd was brought back for its All Stars spin-off. On the back of that, as he puts it “ they slid a cheque under my door, and he became the subject of a documentary series on Netflix – Dancing Queen – about his Mesquite dance studio .

As he tells his cheering, whooping and clapping followers at the Vaudeville Theatre : “ there’s no script: I’m the script”. And for two hours he tells his life story and in Act 2 gives us all the dirty low-down on Drag Race. If you’re a devoted Drag Race fan you will get 100 per cent of the asides, quips and acid remarks . I’m not so I didn’t.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-600.png)](https://www.gscene.com/arts/review-alyssa-edwards-memoirs-of-a-queen/attachment/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

Photos by Pamela Raith

What I did get was that Justin is an utter professional perfectionist in how he looks, moves and enthrals his audience, cocooning them in his undoubted 5-star talent.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-a-queen-4600.png)](https://www.gscene.com/arts/review-alyssa-edwards-memoirs-of-a-queen/attachment/alyssa-edwards-in-alyssa-memoirs-of-a-queen-4600/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

Photos by Pamela Raith

When he turns to dancing, with his agile male quartet of dancing boys, he is at once athletic and balletic – it’s a mesmerising thing to watch and marvel at.

What Alyssa has done is brought a touch of Vegas to the Vaudeville, and I for one am very grateful.

**Until Sunday 13th June.** More info or too [book here:](https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/alyssa-memoirs-of-a-queen/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)