Mary Mac – Hail Mary: The Tartan Songstress, The Fringe, Review

***** (5 stars)

“An excellent explosion of drag musical campery”

Remarkably after a nearly 20 year career in the cutthroat world of Drag, Scotland’s own queen of the heels Mary Mac makes her debut at the Edinburgh Fringe (although she has headlined Edinburgh Pride in her time too) in an hour long  excellent explosion of drag musical campery that see’s the drag legend and west end star win over audiences with a fine selection of songs and comedy from a truly polished performer in killer heels.

What sets Mary apart from many a drag queen working the fringe is number one, that Ru Paul doesn’t know her name and two she is a genuinely talented performer with credits such as “Everybody’s talking about Jamie” and “La Cage Aux Folles” along side establishing a career on the cruise ships which includes a close friendship with gay icon Jane McDonald.

Mary’s vocals are peerless and she delivers the songs with the power of Shirley Bassey and her impersonation of Cher is sheer comedy gold. The comedy flowed with ease and refreshingly it was comedy that was observational and genuinely funny. Yes, like all drag queens the comedy got a little near the knuckle but never at anyone’s expense and every joke and quip landed on solid ground from an expert who knows how to read her audiences.

Mary has a true gift of harnessing the old world of drag ala Danny La Rue but also transcending it to make it accessible to modern audiences. She has a genuine warmth and spirit of character that draws you to her and you hang on every word of her career anecdotes it’s a joy to spend an hour in her company and as she sings herself “This is my life!” and she truly means it!

You won’t find a better drag turn elsewhere on the festival, this show has it all, the voice, the songs, the comedy and a true global icon of drag! Miss Mary Mac and long may she reign!

Mary Mac – Hail Mary: The Tartan Songstress, Studio 2 at Assembly George Square Studios, Venue 17, Runs Until 30th August for more information go to: Mary Mac – Hail Mary: The Tartan Songstress | Edinburgh Festival Fringe