Wundes is not your typical drag queen. Sure, the costumes are fabulous (particularly a glistening gold butterfly number and a white creation that verges on wedding couture) and the sass tangible, but this beauty can sing. Really sing. And here lies the power of this piece. Wundes, well-known and regaled on the local drag scene, has spent a lifetime writing music; Unplugged is their first solo show. As hits go, there are many. The audience tumbles through a digital media time machine of sorts, ‘Drew Barrymore’ and ‘Charmed’ (remember those witches from the 90s?) delight. Artist Alex DeGaris (aka Next Best Feeling) is there onstage, not only providing backup on guitar but also an important part of the narrative. Their chemistry is electric and the journey from down and out and insecure, to unbridled self-expression feels personal, because it is: ‘Now you have to wake up. Now you have to grow up. You gotta grow up honey.’ Final tune ‘Never Grow Up’ is breathtaking and a hit of the future (keep your eye out for their upcoming EP). This is a haunting, raw and touching show. The intimate venue may not be the big, Carnegie Hall stage Wundes dreams of, but with a stellar original setlist like this, New York is surely their future. Or should Wundes represent Australia in Eurovision? When they do, we can say we were fortunate to see them on a tiny stage during Adelaide Fringe 2024.