Kings and Queens
Kings and Queens (2019)
Written and directed by: Rachel Relman
Cinematography by: Paige Hochstatter
We almost never see drag kings and queens leading the same narrative, but Rachel Relman brings them together in their pilot of the same name.
Stevie Stars (Amber Wallin) and Polly Glamory (Dominique Watkins a.k.a. Bambi Banks-Coulee, daughter of Shea Coulee) are the drag king and queen personas of Leah and Michael, two friends who are trying to make it big in drag. RuPaul’s Drag Race, referenced throughout the story, has made drag a big business, even though Black queens and drag kings remain marginalized. “I love drag so much,” Rachel added, but “there’s no drag king representation…there are some dope drag kings in Chicago,” they said.
“I hadn’t seen any fictionalized representation of drag on TV [prior to 2019 when the pilot was released]…I wanted to put my own spin on it. Chicago Drag in particular is a really incredible scene, and I wanted to showcase that. I'm a standup comic, so I wanted it to be funny and relatable, but also something that people can sink their teeth into.”
In the pilot Stevie Stars and Polly Glamory are making their debut as a duo in a drag competition. We see their friendship in their banter, like when Michael/Polly, responding to Leah/Stevie’s ironic flirting, states: “Michael is a gay man, Polyglamory is a lesbian.”
Kings and Queens showcases a strong slice of Chicago’s queer artists, not just in its two leads. There’s an appearance from Abhijeet Rane, a queer artist who hosts many club nights in the city, performances from comedians George Elrod and Jesse Kendall, and the climactic performance scene of the pilot features music from queer duo Glitter Moneyyy.
Drag artist Aunty Chan (Jamie Meun) and actor Em Modaff almost steal the show as two coffee shop workers, Matthew and Becca, who eventually serve our leads. Playing different genders and sexualities, they have fun poking at the differences in the queer cultures in which they both participate, like when Matthew asks how Becca has had sex with their latest partner. Becca responds:
“I am a Top Sun, Switch Rising, Power Bottom Moon. Queer community exists outside of Boystown and cis gay men!”
“I need you to educate me. I’m from Ohio,” Matthew responds.
Such crackling dialogue is the joy of Kings and Queens, as if the audience has been dropped into a queer community that in many ways is like how TV traditionally portrays family. It’s a very Chicago vibe.”
“I don't think people outside of here, or outside of the scene, fully understand how amazing it is, how beautiful it is.” Rachel said of the Chicago queer nightlife community in 2019 upon the pilot’s release. “I hope that our project is able to give the world a small glimpse and encourage people to make art and support local drag”.