Arnaldo Drag Chanteuse

Crazy Aunt Helen’s, Washington, DC, March 24, 2023

Reviewed by Michael Miyazaki

Whenever I see an artist perform using a persona other than “themselves,” I always ask “why?” Arnaldo Drag Chanteuse took the stage in the inaugural National Capital Cabaret Festival at Crazy Aunt Helen’s in an auburn wig and a sparkly overdress and launched into “Diamonds Are Forever,” followed by a tender “The Nearness of You,” and then a bit of specialty material, “Arnaldo,” clarifying the performer’s name. (This was especially amusing because Ann Kittredge had called the act “Renaldo” the night before.) However as further numbers were performed, including an Eartha Kitt-infused “C’Est Si Bon” and “I Wanna Be Evil,” a sultry take on “Peel Me a Grape,” and a successfully flirtatious “Something Cool,” I understood why this particular performer had chosen this persona.

A truism states that “Camp is the lie that tells the truth.” Although Arnaldo Drag Chanteuse is more obviously a man in a dress than are Charles Busch or Lypsinka, the truth in the material Arnaldo chose to present came across far more clearly by being presented in a feminine guise. Near the end of the show, Arnaldo reappeared in a huge ball gown and performed “She’s Got You,” pulling multiple items from the gown’s low-cut neckline, including a stack of 45s, a turkey baster, a tennis racket, a golf putter, and even a crutch. The insane campiness of the moment certainly reflected the truth of the song about the ridiculousness we can all face in our approach to relationships.

Arnoldo had an international as well as a feminine approach to the show’s material, including songs in Spanish (“Angelitos Negros”), Tagalog (“Warai-Warai”), and even “C’mon a My House” in Japanese.