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Jinkx Monsoon is quickly becoming one of the most well-known drag performers in the nation. They won RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 and returned to the 7th season of RuPaul’sDrag Race All Stars to win yet again, becoming the first person to win both versions and earning the title “Queen of All Queens.” They recently did a stint as Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago, becoming the first drag queen to perform the role on Broadway. Their turn was so successful at driving up ticket sales that their time on the show was extended. They even have an upcoming significant role on the long-running sci-fi fan-favorite show, Dr Who, which will be airing in November.
At this point, they are poised to take over the world.
I saw Jinkx in their new show, Everything at Stake, which they recently performed in Boston as a part of a 44-North American city tour.
The show is a vaudevillian-style sketch and monologue-filled musical act that investigates the current political climate and “witch hunt” by the patriarchy against the LGBTQIA+ community. Jinkx describes the show as “stand-up comedy meets rock concert meets drag.” They describe themselves as a “card-carrying witch”, so the witch hunt theme really resonates deeply. Along the way, the show explores themes of anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome, LGBTQIA+ oppression, as well as sobriety—celebrating Jinkx’s four years without alcohol. In a recent interview with EW’s Quick Drag Podcast, they told the interviewer about their show:
“It’s Everything at Stake because this is the most attention I’ve had on me in some time, and I want to show the world why I deserve the attention. That’s where it started, and since coming to this title, the world continues to be a fucking shitshow. And the title now has multiple meanings of course, that will find its way into my work for this tour. I’m too loud-mouthed and opinionated for me not to bring what’s going on in the world into my work.”
Everything at Stake started with Jinkx being led and tied to a stake by hooded figures. Jinkx was wearing a Greek-style one-shoulder tunic with decorations in their ginger hair. Just as they began to sing, we heard a phone ring which puts everyone in the audience in mind of the video of Jinkx before the show imploring the audience members to turn off their phones. The phone rings for a while before Jinkx embarrassingly realizes it’s their phone, tucked away in their tunic. They pause the show and answer the phone to hear someone claiming to be their agent tell them to stop what they are doing and go on a 44-city tour. Thus, we get our first on-stage outfit change, in a quick movement, transforming the tunic into a one shouldered, floor length red dress with a gold belt. The hooded figures remove their hoods and transform from persecutors into a 5-piece band led by the prodigious piano man, Major Scales.
Jinkx gave some background on themself describing a time when they were a 17-year-old in a community production of Rocky Horror Picture Show. They also alluded to a period where they worked as a janitor mopping up blood and declared “true story!” Jinkx also described themself to an audience member as a “trans femme non-binary human with a penis.” They wrapped up the walk down memory lane with a joke “So wonderful to be back in Boston—Cheers!” Jinkx continued by talking about the current state of the United States, saying, “our country is a bubbling cesspit of oppression” and described how this show is meant to dismantle the patriarchy. They invited anyone who disagreed to leave without a refund. In a time riddled with protests and threats against drag performers and the LGBTQIA+ community, it takes a certain amount of bravery to attend a drag show, let alone to put one on across the country.
The show was full of original music and a few fresh takes on older songs. The music was well done and so utterly absorbing that I was able to sit back and enjoy each song as it came, never getting distracted by lackluster music. The band seems to be having a blast performing together on stage. One notable cover is a take on Chicago’s “Roxie” but cleverly changed to “Jinkxie.” Another is Jinkx’s touching rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” done while acting possessed by Judy Garland as part of a séance. Jinkx's impression was superb. Major Scales had a number during a costume change along with Michael Abbot (the keyboard/keytar player) that was a real humdinger of a song. It was so good with the music and the frantic dancing that we barely missed Jinkx while they changed. There were several costume changes during the show’s runtime. A few were backstage, but a surprising number happened onstage in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it move that Jinkx performed in a practiced way. They wore mostly red costumes thorough the night ranging from a pantsuit to a bustier, to a ball gown with gossamer panels that they lifted like wings during an emotional moment while singing the encore. When Jinkx walked onstage after a costume change wearing a red pantsuit, they asked the audience “How do you like the suit?” When they were greeted with applause and roars of approval they bemusedly declared in an exasperated way “It’s a suit!”
There were plenty of jokes and big laughs throughout the night, even with some of the heavy subject matter that was brought up. At one-point Major Scales says to Jinkx “I’m concerned that every time you are confronted with a real emotion you undercut it with a dick joke.” To which Jinkx responded “penis” and poked his nose. There were lots of bits and gags that were clearly heavily influenced by vaudeville, such as Jinkx declaring that on this tour nothing can go wrong then accidentally slinging the phone they were using to talk to their agent across the stage. They even manage to make a story about being misgendered at the airport security line hilarious by pretending to be the TSA agent and yelling “We’ve got a groin anomaly!” While channeling Judy Garland, Jinkx lifted a glass to their lips and declared in surprise “It’s water! Oh well, I’ll drink it anyway!” This glass came from an alcohol-free bar cart where Jinkx had earlier been exaggeratedly grinding up antidepressants to put in their drink.
One of the themes of the night was overcoming struggles with mental illness. A video played during a costume change depicted Jinkx having several of their personal demons locked away, including depression and anxiety. In a funny turn, the depression had their own struggles with depression. These issues along with alcoholism and the dreaded imposter syndrome received several mentions. It was great to see Jinkx working to destigmatize mental illness in the context of their show.
Everything at Stake was at times hilarious, and at times poignant with a strong message, while constantly flowing along nicely. Jinkx is a consummate performer, a master of their craft, and was backed by an excellent band. With so many upcoming projects and new avenues of exposure, we are all sure to see them again shortly, and I look forward to it.
