#1
Posted: 4/28/11 at 11:22pm
As my friends and I walked into the Little Shubert tonight we said, "Well this can't be funnier than Dracula," but as Ms. Gorme told us in Golden Rainbow, "How Could I Be So Wrong?"
The book, score, performances and physical production are truly on the level of a Prince of Central Park or Rachael Lily Rosenbloom. I'm not kidding. It really is that funny. The plot (what plot?) is completely incomprehensible, but you should just go with the flow and take each scene for what it's worth; a true camp lovers delight.
Many on this board have been arguing over whether Rylance or Mantello is giving a better performance this season. Well I'm here to tell you both sides are wrong as (I'm willing to bet a rather drunk) Leslie Jordan just gave a master class on how to bring the house down with every line.
Varla Jean Merman does her best to upstage the short Jordan and has a lot of fun while trying. She had a line in response to Kyle Dean who said something about pulling saying something like, "Oh honey when I pull I always get a response." I absolutely adored her and her entourage of "buckaroos" brilliantly played to the homosexual hilt by Callan Bergmann, Xavier Cano, Wes Hart and Joshua Woodie. Slight SPOILER*** Some highlights of the buckaroos include playing tap dancing Indians while near naked, playing hula girls a la 13 Daughters while near naked, and playing old French type lords (unfortunately fully clothed). End slight SPOILER***
Jenn Colella. Dear Jenn Colella. Will someone cast this woman in a hit show? Here she plays Chicky, a hair stylist where women can just drop of their wigs, like Patti did in WOTV. Don't worry, Jenn sings about how she's going to get out of this line of work, and she ain't teasin'- get it!
Kyle Dean Massey is playing it sweet and earnest, which actually works amidst all the camp that flying around him. He does have to sing lyrics like, "we were so poor we couldn't even pay attention!," but he still sounds winning singing them.
Savannah Wise plays the love interest and has a truly bizarre song with Varla that takes place behind to cardboard cars that must be an homage to Carrie from "Don't Waste the Moon."
Kyle Dean end act one with a gospel send up that reminded me of Richard Kiley singing "Faith" from I Had a Ball. Kyle's was complete with angel chorus, tambourines, confetti and many, many key changes.
There were so many sexual puns I couldn't even keep track of them. Leslie hurdled them at us right and left, often with literal winks at the audience. After a romantic moment between Kyle and Savannah, Leslie lewdly said to Varla, "Looks like Billy Ray's got a lump in his denim for Wanda!"
I must give most of the credit where it's due to Willard Beckham who directed and wrote the book, music and lyrics. This was clearly a man with a vision and a wicked sense for camp. Bravo for achieving such a complete vision and never letting the pace let up.
We often talk about how everyone has a right to their own opinion on this site and all that blah, blah, blah, but I honestly have to wonder if someone could walk out of this show and not be laughing. I had tears in my eyes all evening, and the audience was equally along for the ride (Kyle got cat calls and applause when he took off his shirt!). A well-deserved instant standing was earned by the cast.
This may not run very long, but if you like camp, or are just having a bad day and need a laugh do anything you can to get a ticket to this show.
The book, score, performances and physical production are truly on the level of a Prince of Central Park or Rachael Lily Rosenbloom. I'm not kidding. It really is that funny. The plot (what plot?) is completely incomprehensible, but you should just go with the flow and take each scene for what it's worth; a true camp lovers delight.
Many on this board have been arguing over whether Rylance or Mantello is giving a better performance this season. Well I'm here to tell you both sides are wrong as (I'm willing to bet a rather drunk) Leslie Jordan just gave a master class on how to bring the house down with every line.
Varla Jean Merman does her best to upstage the short Jordan and has a lot of fun while trying. She had a line in response to Kyle Dean who said something about pulling saying something like, "Oh honey when I pull I always get a response." I absolutely adored her and her entourage of "buckaroos" brilliantly played to the homosexual hilt by Callan Bergmann, Xavier Cano, Wes Hart and Joshua Woodie. Slight SPOILER*** Some highlights of the buckaroos include playing tap dancing Indians while near naked, playing hula girls a la 13 Daughters while near naked, and playing old French type lords (unfortunately fully clothed). End slight SPOILER***
Jenn Colella. Dear Jenn Colella. Will someone cast this woman in a hit show? Here she plays Chicky, a hair stylist where women can just drop of their wigs, like Patti did in WOTV. Don't worry, Jenn sings about how she's going to get out of this line of work, and she ain't teasin'- get it!
Kyle Dean Massey is playing it sweet and earnest, which actually works amidst all the camp that flying around him. He does have to sing lyrics like, "we were so poor we couldn't even pay attention!," but he still sounds winning singing them.
Savannah Wise plays the love interest and has a truly bizarre song with Varla that takes place behind to cardboard cars that must be an homage to Carrie from "Don't Waste the Moon."
Kyle Dean end act one with a gospel send up that reminded me of Richard Kiley singing "Faith" from I Had a Ball. Kyle's was complete with angel chorus, tambourines, confetti and many, many key changes.
There were so many sexual puns I couldn't even keep track of them. Leslie hurdled them at us right and left, often with literal winks at the audience. After a romantic moment between Kyle and Savannah, Leslie lewdly said to Varla, "Looks like Billy Ray's got a lump in his denim for Wanda!"
I must give most of the credit where it's due to Willard Beckham who directed and wrote the book, music and lyrics. This was clearly a man with a vision and a wicked sense for camp. Bravo for achieving such a complete vision and never letting the pace let up.
We often talk about how everyone has a right to their own opinion on this site and all that blah, blah, blah, but I honestly have to wonder if someone could walk out of this show and not be laughing. I had tears in my eyes all evening, and the audience was equally along for the ride (Kyle got cat calls and applause when he took off his shirt!). A well-deserved instant standing was earned by the cast.
This may not run very long, but if you like camp, or are just having a bad day and need a laugh do anything you can to get a ticket to this show.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Updated On: 4/28/11 at 11:22 PM
