In the book Danse Macabre, the bestselling horror author of all time, Stephen King said, “I recognize terror as the finest emotion and so I will try to terrorize the reader. But if I find I cannot terrify, I will try to horrify, and if I find I cannot horrify, I will go for the gross-out.”
Horror drag can likewise be divided into these categories: terrifying, horrifying, or grossed-out. One could humbly submit one more category: camp. It’s the funny feeling that something could reach cult status. This is the occult following of the Drag Macabre, and all four of these genre adjectives were explored this Saturday at Blue Moon’s 17th Annual Witch Show.
The Witch Show has a long and storied history dating back to the early 2000s, with the Haus of Haunt, including Alaska 5000 and many other notable notables. It’s become one the longest running shows in Pittsburgh, if not the longest, and has become a dark rite of passage for many local drag artists.
Submitted for your approval, and please read this in your best Rod Serling, Twilight Zone impression, submitted for your approval, a photo essay of sorts . . .
In a world where drag is something to be feared, with trippy visuals, and a cast of characters that look like they escaped a psychiatric hospital and went straight to Spirit Halloween. Let’s look at our line-up of craven witches and warlocks:
Kat De Lac.
Macabre Factor: Terror/Gross Out.
De Lac stunned ever-so-ghoulishly in a dress half-adorned in miniature breasts. Her makeup was chosen specifically to glow under backlight, giving off a bright blue hue. Combined, the look was both hallucinatory and an homage to body horror. What a witch!
Joey Young.
Macabre Factor: Camp.
Young wowed with a Stevie Nicks-inspired number. She said later the look was a callback to American Horror Story: Coven, the season that guest starred Nicks herself. This look was Lindsey Buckingham’s worst nightmare.
Cindy Crotchford.
Macabre Factor: Eleganza.
Crotchford wore a vintage, Victorian-style dress, accompanied by simple makeup and gaudy jewelry. She was the host of the evening of witchcraft.
Warren Munroe.
Macabre Factor: Horror.
Munroe horrified in skin-peeling makeup and a dress that made it look as if this witch was already dead and previously burned at the stake.
Phoenix Fatale.
Macabre Factor: Busty Camp.
The always funny Fatale was a knockout as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Fatale’s signature large boobs were, somehow, bigger than the originals.
Stevie Crotchford.
Macabre Factor: Old Hollywood Camp.
Crotchford rode onto the stage on a broom. She played one of the most iconic witches of all, the Wicked Witch of the West (from the classic Wizard of Oz, not Wicked). And in her performance, this backstabbing wench got her ruby slippers back.
He-Be Buffay.
Macabre Factor: Psychological Camp.
Buffay came on stage as Miss Gandy from the movie Weapons. She had a puppet of a small child, which went missing. Funny and upbeat, yet still somehow disturbing.
Anemia Blunt-Young.
Macabre Factor: Too-Cute Camp.
Blunt-Young (pictured above, blowing a kiss) was the teenage witch herself, Sabrina. She even brought out Salem, Sabrina’s black cat, and used real audio of the fake cat from the ‘90s TV show.
Zion Grindr.
Macabre Factor: Split Personality Horror.
Grindr must’ve been inspired by Jekyll and Hyde because he wore a two-tone, half black, half white suit and carried an evil serum. His two-faced wardrobe and two-faced makeup made for a devilishly delightful performance. Grindr is believed to be the first warlock and drag king in Witch Show history.
