one4review | On 12, Aug 2026

Skank Sinatra is like a being from another planet that everyone in this audience has been searching for.

Boy are they glad when she lands singing in another language. As she jumps into a parody of Kylie, she brings huge energy and the kind of entrance that immediately has the room whooping, cheering and ready to play.

This is first-class drag cabaret: glamorous, filthy, warm, beautifully sung and knowingly ridiculous. Playing, teasing, roasting her audience to their delight. All the while keeping all eyes on the main attraction “herself” – she’s not shy about letting us know who’s in charge.

Sinatra tells the story of leaving Africa as a private-school student and heading to Australia, interspersing her journey with conversations with gay icon Liza Minnelli and increasingly wild theatrical detours. At one point she finds herself in the Austrian adult-film industry, naturally resulting in a musical porno. Elsewhere, My Favourite Things receives a wonderfully filthy reworking.

The singing is excellent, the parody lyrics land beautifully and Sinatra has the voice to make the musical pastiche work beyond the joke. She’s consistently as witty as any stand up here in Edinburgh.

But underneath all the camp there’s a couple of lovely messages “Being seen is not the same as being held.” Said by Lisa to Sinatra herself.

Sinatra describes cabaret as perhaps the most selfless thing you can do: standing in front of strangers and trying to make them feel less alone. Or, as Lisa puts it: “I do it for the homosexuals!”

Two slower songs cause a slight dip in momentum, but Sinatra never loses the room. Towards the finale Sinatra threads jokes through an increasingly impressive vocal performance.

The sequins, filth and theatrical excess are tremendous fun, but underneath it all is an artist trying to make a room full of strangers feel less alone.

For an hour, she truly does.

****
Reviewed by Sharpie
Assembly George Square
Until 30th August (not 12th 18th or 24th)
18.30 (1 hour)