Throughout the years, numerous Jewish queens have graced the main stage of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Jinkx Monsoon, Miz Cracker, Sasha Velour, Plane Jane and Suzie Toot, to name a few, all served looks and slayed the popular reality TV show. Now, finally, with the release of “King of Drag,” queer Jews have a Jewish drag king to root for in a reality competition.
Meet Big D, the man of many characters embodied by 50-year-old Jewish drag artist and clown Deanna Fleysher. And how do I know Big D is Jewish, you ask? His Jewish pride is on full display in the talking head portion of the episode, where he accessorizes with a large, golden chai pendant, a cheetah print blouse, gold earrings and sparkling eyeshadow. Essentially, out of drag, Big D is giving Fran Fine, Babs and/or ’90s Boca Raton Jewess with a side cut.
In the series premiere, Big D arrives to the “King of Drag” Man Cave (think the “Drag Race” Werk Room) in character as Vincent Prixx, a fabulous and wacky artisté donning a ruffled shirt, red paisley smoking jacket, numerous jeweled rings, sideburns and thick contouring make-up. He’s lovable, larger-than-life and has the energy, to steal a phrase from “Monty Python,” of a British upper-class twit. He’s also notably older than the rest of the kings. It initially seems that this might be to Big D’s disadvantage as he gets selected last for the Boy Band challenge, where the kings are split into two groups and must write and perform a song together.
But as it turns out, his comedic experience and refined clownery land him in the top three. The judges, including Sasha Velour, drag king superstar Tenderoni and director Paul Feig, praised Big D’s witty lyrics while Feig gushed over him. “You have the greatest strongest look I have ever seen, I want you in a movie,” he lauded D. “This costume is so graphically pleasing. Your make-up, the persona you have brought is just leaping off the stage and at home it’s leaping off the scream. You are just the complete package.”
“Wow, thank you,” Big D beamed. “I’m just an idiot up here, you know what I mean.”
Not only is it thrilling to have representation of a Jewish drag king — a tradition which goes back at least to 19th and 20th century Yiddish Theater star Pepi Litman — on reality TV, it’s even more exciting to see him do so well. (In the first episode, at least.) And during Pride Month, no less! Here’s hoping that over the course of the season, viewers get to see Big D embody his other characters, which include the very Jewish-sounding Dr. Melvin Schmuckler and Butt Kapinski.
