ACID’S REIGN - ACCESS GUIDE
All performances of Acid’s Reign are relaxed. This means that the performance has been adapted for people who may benefit from a performance where the theatre conventions are less rigid and everyone involved is prepared for a wider variety of behaviours and reactions. At these performances you can make noise, get up and sit down when you need to, and also the sound and lighting is adapted to be less extreme.
Content Warnings
Strong language (e.g. F-word, C-word, S-word)
Sexual references (e.g. a character wipes the corners of their mouth suggestively, a prop dildo is used on stage at various points)
Mentions of homophobia (e.g. the characters discuss whether queer people could be blamed for global warming)
Flashing (not strobe) lighting
Loud music
Pre-Word and Warnings
Acid’s Reign is a sustainable drag-cabaret play exploring the queerness of nature, and how the climate crisis impacts LGBTQ+ communities. It’s camp, funny, and full of amazing drag and cabaret performances.
During this piece some characters get upset with each other and disagree. This is all acting and the cast all get along with each other very well. No one is hurt emotionally or physically throughout this piece.
There are some moments of playful audience interaction throughout the show. They have been flagged throughout the ‘scene by scene’ breakdown below. In these moments we invite the audience to be a part of the storytelling, however if you do not wish to be a part of these interactions that is absolutely fine.
Most songs contain flashing or bright (not strobe) lighting and loud background music. They have been indicated below, amongst some plot points, so should you find this overwhelming you are able to leave with plenty of time.
Setting and Plot Summary
Now. Mother Nature’s Drag Club.
“... in the face of self-doubt, ridicule, and broader ecological crisis, we embrace our sense of our own absurdity, our uncertainty, our humour, even our perversity”
Nicole Seymour, Toward An Irreverent Ecocriticism
Tycoon Alex Acid is returning to the Haus that made them, ready to tear it down and destroy anything and anyone standing in their way, including Mother Nature herself. But Mother won’t sashay away and Acid’s siblings (Sea, Land and Air) are waiting backstage to teach them a long-overdue lesson in environmental responsibility, with the help of a little drag magic. Will Acid reign? Or will they learn to embrace all that Mother Nature has to offer?
Scene By Scene:
Scene 1:
Song: WHEN YOU’RE GOOD TO MAMA
Performed by Mother Nature
Alex Acid returns home to Mother Nature’s Drag Club. There, he speaks to his drag mother, Mother Nature, who is not happy to see him after he left the community to become a banker. The interaction reveals that Acid has bought the land where ‘Mother Nature’s’ stands and intends to make it into his own drag club - ‘Acid’s’.
Song: DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE/I’M TELLING YOU MEDLY
Performed by Mother Nature and Acid
Scene 2:
With Acid showing no care for Mother Nature or the impact he has on the planet, Sea (one of Mother Nature’s drag children) is invited to show Acid how plastic is impacting the oceans.
Song: ROLLING IN THE DEEP
Performed by Sea
Acid and Sea continue to talk about the impact of plastic on the oceans, and how global warming will change the oceans significantly.
Song: GET THIS PARTY STARTED
Performed by Sea
Scene 3:
Acid isn’t convinced by Sea, so Mother Nature brings out another of her drag children to help - Land.
Song: AIN’T NO OTHER MAN
Performed by Land⁸
Acid and Land have an exchange about money, oil and land development. Some audio cues are used to lip synch throughout their conversation. Throughout the conversation Land begins to ooze oil, dripping all over the stage…
Song: FILTHY GORGEOUS
Performed by Land, Acid, Sea and Mother Nature
Land, Sea and Mother Nature continue to talk to Acid about owning land and the detriment it can have on the flora and fauna who use it. The conversation touches on gender and sexuality in plants and animals… and how it is totally part of nature…
*Some audience interaction
Song: IT’S RAINING MEN
Performed by Land
Scene 4:
Acid is left feeling thoughtful. He realises that he is being driven by shame…
Song: FAME
Performed by Acid
Mother Nature is not convinced by Acid’s thoughtfulness and brings in another of her drag children, Air.
Song: IN THE AIR TONIGHT
Performed by Air and Acid
Air shows Acid the future, but all he can see is smoke. Air, Land and Sea continue to explore this world with Acid, hoping he will see the impact his actions have. They are trying to get him to see that he is the Bad Guy…
Song: BAD GAY
Performed by Air and Acid
Scene 5:
Mother Nature now asks Acid what he is going to do now. Acid has fallen into climate doom, choosing to continue with his plans because hope is lost anyway.
*Some Audience Interaction
Song: FIND A WAY (BORN THIS WAY)
Performed by all
The others show Acid that they are stronger together, and he is an important part of the world. He is Fire. Together they are able to make a change and build stronger communities.
Song: STRONGER
Performed by all
END.
CHARACTERS
Alex Acid
Cockerfeller (Land)
Mother Nature
VOICE - Mariah Airy (Air)
Ashell (Sea)