By Kevin Ferrisi –
The Chez Est has a reputation for booking some of the best RuGirls that have graced the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and added to the long list of special guests is Aura Mayari from season 15.
Located on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford, The Chez Est is the local home bar to three of this past season’s contestants: Loosey LaDuca, Robin Fierce and Amethyst. John and Luis Pepe, owners of the Chez Est, introduced Mayari to the crowd, initiating the start to a VIP meet-and-greet with the season 15 contestant that would lead into the night’s performances.
Hometown drag artists Kiki Lucia, Ambrosia Black, October May Lay and Judah also performed during the night. The show had two sets and each performer took to the stage as opening acts for Aura herself. Each local entertainer performed a lip-sync accompanied with a dance number to a musical mashup that led to each of Mayari’s two sets.
The time came for Aura to perform her first number. The beat dropped and the stage lights were flashing, building up the crowd’s anticipation before Aura stomped the stage to a mashup of Beyonce’s ‘Alien Superstar’ and ‘Thique’ as well as ‘Pure/Honey’. After her performance, she took a moment to connect with the crowd and snatched the opportunity to crack a few jokes about her season 15 sister and friend Robin Fierce, who was present amongst the crowd. Aura shared with the audience that out of all the season 15 sisters, she became the closest to Robin and has spent the most time with her.
After a short break and another round of local drag entertainers, Aura was about to end the night with one last lip-sync number, but not before a surprise performance by Robin Fierce herself! Robin sang live a rendition of her newly released cover of ‘I’m Coming Out’. Finally, Aura closed out the night with a powerful heartfelt lip-sync of Evanescence’s ‘Bring Me To Life’.
Aura Mayari is a Filipino-American drag performer and one of the contestants of the fifteenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, up until her elimination during episode 7, one spot shy of the top 10. Aura is the 9th queen to be eliminated the very next episode after having won a Maxi Challenge landing her in the top 11. The word ‘aura’ is Filipino slang for someone who’s overacting, overly confident or attention seeking. The drag name is very fitting because, when she hits the stage, she surely knows how to put on a show.
The night’s cast, including Robin Fierce, reunited on stage to bid a proper farewell to Aura Mayari. The chemistry was apparent between friends Robin and Aura and it sure was a treat to have a double helping of RuGirls!
You can check out the Chez Est here to see their lineup of scheduled shows.
Leave a Reply