Only about half a dozen North Texans attended an adolescent-friendly drag cabaret show in Fort Worth on Saturday night.
Red Goose Saloon hosted Moonlight Cabaret, a drag show with live singing instead of the lipsyncing characteristic of many drag performances. The show was hosted by drag performer Salem Moon.
The show was recommended for patrons 16 years of age and up, with promotional material claiming the show “isn’t risque, just theatrical,” per the event website. The Dallas Express attended the show, and it did not appear that there were any minors in attendance.
As previously reported by DX, drag shows that allow minors to attend have prompted scrutiny and protests in different parts of Texas over the last couple of years. Such performances have also been slammed for allegedly being “derisive, divisive, and demoralizing misogyny.” West Texas A&M University president Walter Wendler described drag in such a way when he canceled a drag performance at the campus in March of last year.
Guests at the Red Goose Saloon were offered alcoholic drinks and food items from a menu themed after the show that night.
Drag performers, including Salem Moon, Pysril Cybin, and Arsenic Aney, put on various numbers from popular musicals, such as Hamilton, Bare: A Pop Opera, and We Will Rock You as guests passed cash tips forward. As advertised, no performances were sexually charged or had any overtly risque undertones, a departure from the drag brunch hosted at the venue the previous weekend.
DX reached out to Chris Hutchinson, the owner of the Red Goose Saloon, to inquire about the appropriateness of such shows being open to minors and if he himself was a misogynist.
Salem Moon responded, suggesting that DX has not been covering the shows at Red Goose Saloon accurately and should speak with more drag performers but assuring the news outlet that its request for comment would be forwarded to Hutchinson.