Master Gaga

Seeing his high heels, red tights, a ruff and a rubber creature around his crotch, the audience stand to attention for Markus Makavellian’s International Order. The flamboyant New York poet and performance artist brings an hour of humourous, accurate, unashamed commentary on the mundanities of twenty-first century living: relationships, internet dating and 'hideous jobs'. A satirical play on everyday life, Drew Taylor AKA Markus Makavellian takes the audience on a turbulent and nostalgic adventure of poetic aptitude, challenging sexuality, stereotypes, legalisation and megalomania, all with a ‘hey y’all’ American charm. Comic, camp, outrageous and likeable, he mocks our consumer society, such as internet dating – “Unsupervised talking already!? Not till we’re going steady!” and in his 'Ode to the Call Centre'. However, amidst the humour and glitter, are some touching pieces of sentiment, as he presents heartfelt and beautifully composed poems of anguish, injustice and longing. Makavellian reflects on promiscuity, heartache and adultery, recited with theatrical vigour and endearing modesty. The real allure of his performance is its honesty, which reaches a climax when he removes his wig and faces the audience head-on. The performance wonderfully juxtaposes tongue-in-cheek jokes, frivolity, music and theatrics against a frank and honest depiction of reality. Wonderfully blunt and cleverly constructed, emotive pieces on gender, homosexuality and love collide with Lady Gaga bashing and an opening poem about defecation; an eclectic cabaret of vulgarity, poignancy and emotion, sprinkled in glitter and topped with a prosthetic wig.