The Drag by Mae West

Written by Mae West under her pen name Jane Mast, The Drag mixes drag culture with drawing room comedy. Funny and flamboyant, the play creates an unusual love triangle topped with a decadent parade and celebration of drag. Twilight Theater’s production is directed by Ravyn Jazper-Hawke. Premiering in 1927, the play was a great financial success — reportedly earning West $30,000 on its opening night — but was widely panned by critics for its open portrayal of homosexuality and gender exploration. The Society for the Prevention of Vice warned the producers that if the play continued, all Broadway productions that season would be scrutinized and censored. The Deputy Police Commissioner at the time issued a police raid; The Drag was closed after two weeks, West was tried and found guilty, sentenced to 10 days in jail and fined $500. Upon her release, West reportedly announced that “A few days in the pen ‘n' a $500 fine ain’t too bad a deal”. West then donated to the women’s prison and established the Mae West Memorial Library.

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2576660-0

Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/2576660-2

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