The Drag Race Hills Are Alive With the ‘Sound of Rusic’ – News JoJo

Hello, hello, hello! This week’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race saw the queens putting their charisma, uniqueness, nerve (and most of all) talent as they took the stage for a fan-favorite challenge.

The queens return to the werk room after Geneva Karr’s elimination and Mhiya Iman LePaige has seemingly secured her place as the season’s lip sync assassin (so far, at least.) Q is delighted to finally be in the winner’s circle, but Dawn is disappointed her space-age look (which Morphine hilariously likened to Buzz Lightyear) didn’t triumph over Q’s fairy look (while Dawn’s gown was expertly constructed, I think the judges made the right decision.) Sapphira Cristal admitted she was too much in her head when she decided to use her immunity potion and knows she needs to turn it out for every challenge moving forward. As for the queens who have yet to score a win, to quote “You in danger, girl.”

Ru delivers some clues to this week’s maxi challenge in her video and only Plasma (and every musical theater kid in the world – including myself) got the references. Yep, it’s time for the Rusical, and this season pays homage to the classic Julie Andrews vehicle, The Sound of Music. While Plasma is over the moon about this, Dawn is the opposite, stating she hates musical theater. Ru tells the queens that they will be choosing their own roles and that they will be working with director Adam Shankman (who has the film versions of Hairspray and Rock of Ages under his belt).   

As always, the casting process brings a little drama. Obviously, Plasma is gunning for the lead role, but Morphine Love Dion also would like a chance to shine and escape the safe zone. Q and Megami squabble over the role of the villain, the Baroness. Megami also feels she needs to have a main role and the two play rock, paper scissors to see who gets the part – and Q takes it, much to Megami’s dismay. Sapphira throws her hat into the ring to get the lead part. Plasma puts her foot down and insists the only role she wants is Mariah. Period. Sapphira and Morphine relent. Sapphira mentions in the confessional that the last person she surrendered a role to went home, so there’s that.   

As the queens learn their roles, Plasma won’t shut up about the challenge, while Sapphira slips into her Mother Superior role like it was the one she was born to play. Xunami Muse, Q, and Plane Jane get into their evil roles, going on a werk room walk around to try and stir stuff up. Along the way, Morphine notes that Xunami may or may not have a crush on Jane, and Megami insists she’s not worried about her small part in the show. Plasma has a different experience as she finally comes to the realization that her part in the challenge is “all of it.”   

The queens meet with Adam on the runway to work on the staging and choreography. Adam keeps mentioning his “assistant,” so you know there are some shenanigans on the way. When said assistant arrives, the queens are delighted because it’s none other than Melissa McCarthy. She proves to be a not-so-great assistant, knocking over a bunch of drinks, but she throws cheese to the queens and gives them a pep talk, telling them that if it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t have a career. She also mentions that there are no small parts, words that Morphine takes to heart. I love Melissa and wouldn’t be mad if she showed up again.

The next day, as the queens get ready to take the stage, Sapphira feels confident, Q said she rehearsed all night to gain redemption from her less than stellar girl group performance and Jane revealed she was a (quite good) ballroom dancer as a kid. She went on to say she gave it up after a high school classmate told her it was “gay” and that giving it up was her biggest regret.

It’s time for the Rusical! Set at The Abbey in the Swish Alps, Mother Superior (Sapphira) and the Bad Habits (Morphine and Mhi’ya) introduce us to the plot – a singing competition between them, the Von Snaps (Nymphia Wind, Megami and Dawn) and Baroness and the Baronettes (Q, Jane and Xunami.) Along comes the Julie Andrews-inspired Mariah (Plasma), a singer looking for a group. The Bad Habits did a spirited rendition of “Jesus is a Biscuit” (and Mhi’ya got wrapped up in her habit), and Sapphira nailed her 11 o’clock number (I don’t know why they didn’t let her sing it). The Von Snaps were funny enough (and Nymphia made a stretch from bananas to pinecones), and the Baronettes (sans Q) did a take on the UK hit “Break Up, Bye Bye.”  Q did redeem herself and navigated a huge stole/wrap. Of course, Plasma proved she could carry the show and delivered a star-quality performance.