The Bad Review Fund "GALA" New York Performances

The Bad Review Fund “GALA” lands at The Parkside Lounge as a downtown variety bill built around Christeene and Garnet, with guests cycling through. Christeene, the performance persona of Paul Soileau, works in abrasive drag that uses deliberate ruin—wigs, makeup, costume—as a tool to stage discomfort and test the audience’s tolerance. Garnet brings a contrasting presence, sharpening the night’s shifts in tone and control. In a city with a long history of club-based art and queer resistance, the format feels less like a gala than an argument about what gets celebrated.