Lairy Poppins: The Rusical

Last updated
"Lairy Poppins: The Rusical"
RuPaul's Drag Race UK episode
Episode no.Series 4
Episode 5
Directed byTony Grech-Smith
Written byNiki Xenophontos
Original air dateOctober 20, 2022 (2022-10-20)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Catty Man"		Next →
"Strictly Come Snatch Game"
List of episodes

"Lairy Poppins: The Rusical" is the fifth episode of the fourth series of the British television show RuPaul's Drag Race UK . [1] [2] [3] It originally aired on 20 October 2022 and sees contestants act, dance, and sing live in a Mary Poppins-inspired Rusical (musical theatre challenge). Hannah Waddingham is a guest judge and Giovanni Pernice is a guest choreographer. Danny Beard wins the challenge. After placing in the bottom two, Baby removes herself from the competition for mental health purposes.

Contents

Episode

Hannah Waddingham is a guest judge. Hannah Waddingham-2795.jpg
Hannah Waddingham is a guest judge.

The contestants return to the Werk Room following the elimination of Sminty Drop. On a new day, RuPaul greets the contestants and reveals the mini-challenge, which tasks contestants with "reading" (or playfully insulting) each other. Pixie Polite wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the contestants are tasked with acting, dancing, and singing live [4] in a "raunchy" Mary Poppins-inspired Rusical called Lairy Poppins: The Rusical. [5] For winning the mini-challenge, Pixie Polite gets to assign the roles. Following are the contestants and roles:

On the main stage, the contestants receive vocal coaching from judge Michelle Visage, as well as vocal coach Dane Chalfin. The contestants then rehearse choreography with Giovanni Pernice. Back in the Werk Room, the contestants prepare for the Rusical and fashion show.

On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow panelists Visage and Alan Carr, as well as guest judge Hannah Waddingham. [6] [7] The runway category is "West End Wonders". [8] Danny Beard, Jonbers Blonde, and Pixie Polite receive positive critiques, and Danny Beard wins the challenge. Baby, Dakota Schiffer, and Le Fil receive negative critiques, and Le Fil is deemed safe. Baby and Dakota Schiffer face off in a lip-sync contest to "No Way" by the cast of Six featuring Renée Lamb. After the lip-sync contest, Baby announces that she is leaving the competition because of mental health issues. [9] [10] [11] Dakota Schiffer is declared safe and no one is eliminated from the competition.

Production

Danny Beard wins the main challenge. Eurovision Song Contest 2023 - Eurovision Village - Danny Beard - 52902352686 (cropped).jpg
Danny Beard wins the main challenge.

The episode originally aired on 20 October 2022. Baby discussed her struggles throughout the episode and series. [12] [13] According to Gay Times , "Although Baby 'knew' she wanted to exit the series after filming Lairy Poppins: The Rusical – saying she was 'doubled-over in crippling pain from anxiety' – she chose to remain in the competition 'out of respect' for her season four sisters." [14] The website's Rachel Coventry said the episode "sparked discussion surrounding mental health and anxiety". [15] Baby said she had a difficult time deciding to leave the competition. [16]

Fashion

Pixie Polite wears a black-and-white Hairspray -inspired outfit. Jonbers Blonde presents a yellow outfit inspired by Singin' in the Rain . Black Peppa's look is inspired by The Lion King . She has a large headpiece of a lion's face.

Dakota Schiffer's look is inspired by Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl . Cheddar Gorgeous presents a denim jumpsuit inspired by Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Her outfit displays quotes from the musical.

Le Fil presents an outfit inspired by The King and I. Baby wears a look inspired by Juliet from Romeo and Juliet . Danny Beard resembles a potted plant, paying tribute to Audrey II from The Little Shop of Horrors.

Reception

Jordan Robledo of Gay Times called the Rusical's lyrics "outrageous". [17] Xtra Magazine said, "As Lairy Poppins, Danny was the star of the show both literally and qualitatively. She was working at an incredibly high level for a Rusical, and matched that energy on the runway with a dazzling Audrey II." [18] In 2022, Marcus Wratten of PinkNews called the Rusical among the best to date. [19] In 2025, he said the Rusical was among the show's best challenges. [20] Barry Levitt ranked Lairy Poppins number 44 in Vulture 's list of Rusicals, writing: "There's joy to be found in a Mary Poppins parody — just ask The Simpsons! Drag Race, however, can't find anything worthwhile in this poorly written concoction. Lairy Poppins wastes good singers and runs too long, but Jonbers Blonde injects glorious life into the proceedings as a demented, horny bird lady. It's hard to watch, and there's even a number about how bad it is, which is not fierce. I'd rather look at H&M on the runway than watch this again." [21]

References

  1. ↑ Moylan, Brian (2022-10-20). "RuPaul's Drag Race U.K. Recap: Stage Intervention". Vulture . Archived from the original on 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  2. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' Season 4, Episode 5 recap: West End winners". Xtra Magazine . Pink Triangle Press. 2022-10-21. ISSN   0829-3384. Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  3. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: "Lairy Poppins: The Rusicial" (S04 E05) -". Werrrk.com. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  4. ↑ Clark, Conor (2022-10-21). "Drag Race stars react to latest UK episode: "This show is so hard"". Gay Times . ISSN   0950-6101 . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  5. ↑ "Sussex drag queen avoids elimination on Drag Race UK after shocking twist". The Argus . Newsquest. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  6. ↑ "Ru Paul's Drag Race UK". BBC . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  7. ↑ Spirus, Dr (2022-10-23). "Baby, the queen who sashayed away is a star". YASS Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  8. ↑ "Every look from the Drag Race UK series 4 episode 5 West End musicals runway". BBC Three. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  9. ↑ Duncan, Charlie (2022-10-21). "Drag Race UK's Baby opens up about emotional elimination: 'It wasn't easy'". PinkNews . Archived from the original on 2025-06-03. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  10. ↑ Henderson, Taylor. "Drag Race UK Star Baby Explains Show Exit: 'I Was Really Unwell'". Pride.com . Here Media . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  11. ↑ Robledo, Jordan (2022-10-27). "The queens make their Snatch Game debut on the latest episode of Drag Race UK season 4". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  12. ↑ James, Alastair (2022-10-21). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK queen breaks silence on surprise exit". Attitude . ISSN   1353-1875 . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  13. ↑ "Drag Race star Baby breaks silence with emotional statement after shock exit". Cosmopolitan . Hearst Communications. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  14. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (2022-10-24). "Baby breaks silence on Drag Race UK exit with powerful statement". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  15. ↑ Coventry, Rachel (2022-10-26). "'Baby's exit on Drag Race UK showed us that anxiety shouldn't be a taboo topic'". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  16. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK airs unexpected exit twist during musicals week". Digital Spy . Hearst Communications. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  17. ↑ Robledo, Jordan (2022-10-13). "The queens get "catty" on the latest episode of Drag Race UK season 4". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  18. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' Season 4, Episode 5 power ranking: "You wanna replace me, baby, there's no way"". Xtra Magazine. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  19. ↑ Wratten, Marcus (2022-11-24). "Drag Race UK just crowned a winner, baby". PinkNews. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  20. ↑ Wratten, Marcus (2025-10-22). "Every season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK ranked from worst to best". PinkNews. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  21. ↑ Levitt, Barry (2025-02-21). "Every Drag Race Rusical, Ranked". Vulture. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.