EdFringe 2023 Review: Anita Wigl’it: Funny Gurl ★★★★ 

Those familiar with RuPaul’s Drag Race: Down Under or Canada’s Drag Race vs. The World will be familiar with infectious positivity of New Zealand drag star Anita Wigl’it. The British-born talent brings her one-woman show Anita Wigl’it: Funny Gurl to Edinburgh’s Gilded Balloon Teviot’ Debating Hall for an evening of laughs, lip-syncs and high energy fun.

This autobiographical piece sees Anita reflect on her childhood, discovery of drag, building success in the drag scene, and her romantic life. Brimming with a self-deprecating charm, the gleeful crudeness you would expect from a drag spectacle, and some impressively costumed lip-syncs, whether you are familiar with Anita or not, you will leave as a fan.

Travelling back to Anita’s childhood, the star brings in some early audience interaction in impromptu game Poof or Poof inspired by the drag star’s childhood photos. Immediately showcasing a willingness to poke fun at herself, Anita showcases three high camp pictures of her young self plagued questionable by nineties fashions. Photos are incorporated well throughout on a simple but effective backing slideshow which gives a glimpse into Anita’s drag journey. The star amusingly recounts her first experiences in drag (prior to an age of YouTube make-up tutorials), complete with comical anecdote. Early fascination with Bond Girls leads to a quick costume change and lip-sync to Dame Shirley Bassey’s Goldfinger.

Anita intersperses some well-intentioned audience interaction throughout, peppered with amusingly crude gags and gestures during the lip-syncs. Whether taking on numbers to Mousse T’s Horny or Vanessa Amorosi’s Absolutely Everybody, Anita brings high-energy and a refreshingly consistent sense of positivity to the fold. The star manages effortlessly gets the audience on board from the early moments and when the odd technical mishap occurs, Anita takes it in her stride and utilises it for its full humorous potential.

One of Anita’s key strengths is her ability to showcases a true human vulnerability. Opening up through video monologue about a sexual assault and the subsequent anxiety triggered by this captures the fighting, resilient spirit of Anita – one that many in the LGBTQ+ community will align with. Funny Gurl is impressively textured, allowing moments of painful honesty to sit alongside the high-camp silliness, taking the audience along for this well-pitched ride. A heartfelt trumpet rendition of a classic jazz standard injects some further pathos into this moment of reflection, whilst showcasing another string to the New Zealander’s bow.

Packed with high-energy, positivity and an endearing vulnerability, Anita Wigl’it: Funny Gurl is a captivating delight. Self-deprecating humour and gleeful star quality from Anita in her lip-syncs and anecdotes ensure this is a joyous ride.

Anita Wigl’it Funny Gurl runs until the 7th of August. Get tickets here.