Shay Mace
Drew Lausch’s upcoming Edinburgh Festival Fringe show follows his journey growing up gay in Fargo, North Dakota. Drew tells us he did what anyone in that position would do: invented the world’s first gay superhero. Friendliest sees Drew in a high-stakes pitch meeting with a major comic book company, determined to sell his outrageous new hero. But, as the pitch unravels, so does he. We caught up with Drew for a pixelated pint to find out more about the show.
You can catch Friendliest at Gilded Balloon Teviot (Nook) from 18:00 (60mins) on August 5–31. Tickets are Available Through the Gilded Balloon Box Office.
Shay: Hi Drew, tell us about creating a show about queer superheroes and why you have decided to bring this to the stage now?
Drew: I’ve been obsessed with superheroes for as long as I can remember. Which is ironic, because I grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, where being called a hero usually meant cheating on your wife and still leading the church fundraiser. I loved comic books, but I never saw queer people saving the day. We were usually the cautionary tale. So I thought, “Fine. I’ll make one.”
Friendliest follows a comic book artist who becomes obsessed with creating the world’s first gay superhero, only to realize the biggest thing standing in his way is himself. Turns out it’s hard to save the world when you’re actively ruining your own life.
I wanted to write something that was as funny as the conversations I have with my friends and as honest as the ones I avoid having with myself. It’s about shame, addiction, coming out, comic books, poppers, and the very human desire to believe that one perfect idea might fix everything.
It feels like the right time to tell this story because queer people deserve stories where we’re allowed to be complicated. We can be funny, selfish, hopeful, and occasionally complete disasters. That’s the kind of hero I was looking for growing up. Since I couldn’t find him, I put him on stage.
Shay: Tell us about your process for putting together this hour – what do you do to get yourself motivated and what challenges have you found with this material?
Drew: I’m most excited to finally share this story with audiences. The last time I was at the Edinburgh Fringe, I was an 18-year-old closeted musical theatre kid, secretly in love with the boy this show is based on. I spent that trip trying so hard to be someone else. Coming back now—as a queer comedian, with a show that’s brutally honest about that part of my life—feels incredibly full circle.
I’m also excited for the really important cultural experiences… like finding out if haggis belongs in a burrito. (I’m hoping the answer is yes.)
I can’t wait to take long walks up Arthur’s Seat with my director, Jenny Leon, and spend the month doing what Fringe does best: making the show better every single day. That’s the magic of Edinburgh.
More than anything, I hope audiences from all over the world connect with it. The story is deeply personal and rooted in my experience growing up queer in North Dakota, but I’m hoping people see themselves in it whether they’ve struggled with identity, addiction, first love, or just the complicated process of becoming the person they were always supposed to be.
Shay: Tell us about your comedy icons – who are they, and how have they influenced your work?
Drew: My comedy heroes are Josh Thomas, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Michaela Coel. What connects all three of them isn’t just that they’re outrageously funny it’s that they write, star in, and produce their own work. They tell blisteringly honest stories that make you laugh one second and completely wreck you the next.
Their shows aren’t afraid to tackle messy, complicated subjects with humor, empathy, and absolute specificity. They prove that comedy can do more than entertain but that it can challenge perspectives and even change minds.
They’re the artists I aspire to emulate. I want to create work that’s fearless, deeply personal, and funny enough to invite people in before asking them to see the world a little differently.
Shay: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Drew: I normally pace around the dressing room & ask Jenny if I should re-write the entire show.
Shay: What do you do when you’re faced with writer’s block?
Drew: Go for a walk! Smoke a cigarette! Cry! Watch youtube videos of people playing Super Smash Bros.
Shay: Has/will the show be performed anywhere ahead of EdFringe?
Drew: Yep! We’ve had out of town try outs in New York, Los Angeles, & Atlanta.
Shay: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Drew: Tequila Shot. It’s tasty to some, disgusting to others, but perfect for a party.
A reminder, you can catch Friendliest at Gilded Balloon Teviot (Nook) from 18:00 (60mins) on August 5–31. Tickets are Available Through the Gilded Balloon Box Office.
Image Credit: Savanna Ruedy
Isabella Pettite
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