Escape nightclub has been at the centre of all the action lately.

Thursday nights, however, have been reserved for the past three months for a very different type of action; "Flawless Follies", the weekly drag queen show hosted by the daring nightclub.

"It's been very, very popular," said Escape manager Paul DeCouto.

"We used to do a gay and gay-friendly night on Thursdays, because we want to entertain everybody," he said. However attendance was low and Mr. DeCouto and Dean Parris, who used to put on the drag queen show held at Clayhouse Inn every Halloween, took a chance.

"A few people said we should do it more often," said Mr. Parris, of the show which Clayhouse Inn used to hold. "So I put together a group to entertain people in Bermuda."

"We started a show to attract tourists and everyone else," said Mr. DeCouto. "Usually on holidays or for a big show it's packed, you can't move."

Just such a big show is planned for the Thursday night of Cup Match, which Mr. DeCouto anticipates will be similarly crowded.

"We do things people don't normally do," he added. When asked if the show, with its controversial subject matter, had caused any negative backlash towards the club, he replied: "We have to remember that in Bermuda we are a very diverse community.

"Whether people like it or not, it's here and it's here to stay. Why should they hide? These are human beings and they are very nice, I enjoy working with them - they bring class and elegance to the club."

"People get a kick out of it," said Mr. Parris, who wants to bring Flawless Follies to Bermuda's hotels, similar to what is done in New York. A lot of tourists, he added, enjoy the high energy and novelty of the show.

Flawless Follies also draws a broad local crowd. "You see people from all walks of life," said Mr. Decouto. "Black, white, gay, straight - it's a very diverse crowd."

The show itself, which The Royal Gazette attended on June 28, was peppered with jaw dropping moments as the "ladies" danced and kicked their five-inch stiletto heels in the air.

Each of the four performers available that night (unfortunately, several were at a conference in New York) came out several times to perform lip-synched solos to classics by the likes of Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige. The lip-synching itself was almost as good as Milli Vanilli, and very few members of the audience could have walked across the stage in such glittering dresses and heels, much less danced the way these queens did.

All of them clearly loved performing for the appreciative crowd. In fact, it was so clear that they loved being up there, that it was somewhat of a let-down to realise that all the show consisted of was an hour of these lip-synched solo performances.

With such evident energy and passion one felt almost ready for anything; a duet, a skit, even a monologue. Indeed the best part of the show was the ending, not because it meant it was ending, but because it brought all four divas up on stage together for their grand finale parting dances.

Whatever the quality of the show itself, it was obvious everyone involved - audience, dancers, DJs, emcees - were having the time of their lives.

Audience member Nicole Miller agreed.

"They were into it, they were enjoying themselves and proud of themselves, so it was good to see," she said.

"Everyone's music was cool. I liked that we got to see each performer multiple times, that we got to see the same person playing with a couple of different personalities.

"My favourite performer was Miss Tropico," she added.

More pictures of the June 28 show can be seen at the blackandcoke.com Bermuda entertainment website (www.blackandcoke.com), and more information about Flawless Follies can be found at www.angelfire.com/retro/flawlessfollies.