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| Dorrie and Lord Marsden dancing the night away. | Courtesy Photo |
TEMPERMENTALS. KERNS ‘THREE
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| Golden Girls are pure Gold. Courtesy Photo |
THREE SISTERS -- THE MUSICAL MADE ITS DEBUT IN 1934. Now 42nd
Street Moon has put on a lavish and complete version of the musical to bring us
back those more sedate days. This American Premiere (it has played at 42nd
Moon in the past). But that was more of a reading of the musical and it was not
complete. This is a bona fide hoop-de-do musical with all kinds of hi jinks
going on.
There is singing and dancing, people with money and those
that don’t have that much money. The specialty routines are a highlight of the
evening. Soldiers dance and sing and girls just pop in and out with a frilly
life that is filled with carefree adventure.
The musical sounds very much like other songs that we have
heard over the years. The show opens with kind of an “Oklahoma” style. Then it
suddenly moves from the Prairie to the inside of sumptuous homes. Some of the
tunes in the show became parts of later year musicals. The only song that
really sticks in my mind is the well known, “I Won’t Dance.”
The musical is a lovely trip to another time. Everything is
frothy. The Costumes cover up most everything – and that is what makes the
women so charming. There was no need in those days to show cleavage. There was
even one song that reminded me of “Sweeny Todd.”
There ARE the classes. Hi and Low. And in this frothy show –
they seem to mix well. You will probably also notice a touch of “My Fair Lady.”
There are at least 14 people on the stage. Not all a once –
but this is a huge talented cast. Michael Kern’s smile gets any girl that he
wants. Bill Fahrner (George Purvis) is really a great Actor. All the Actors
gave their consistent talents. It was a marvelous evening, and if I had the
room -- I would mention everyone.
Director Greg MacKellan knows how to pull the strings
perfectly. Dave Dubrusky (Musical Director) never fails to bring out the hidden
emotions in music. Scarlett Kellum’s Costume Designs are fantastic.
Sometimes going back to the past – is really a blast.
Now Playing at the Eureka Theatre
RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-
THE GOLDEN GIRLS AT THE VICTORIA THEATRE
THE GOLDEN GIRLS (A SPOOF)
CALL MY CRAZY – But I became a die-hard Fan of the Golden
Girls way back when they were on TV. The Girls were not only funny, but they also delved into social and
controversial issues. Yes, they probed the forbidden. Aging, poverty,
discrimination, dying, friendship and even homosexuality were all problems
around the world.
Marc Cherry was in the production crew (he came up with most of the tongue in cheek dialogue). You know him now as
the creator of “Desperate Housewives.” You can still see the T.V show's on some
reruns or on old VCR’s – but I have a better idea. Go to the Victoria Theatre on 16th@Mission to see a live take (with
permission) of the Drag Version of the “Golden Girls.” They have been doing
this show for something like 13-years. This is the first time in a really big
Theatre.
The show is actually called “The Golden Girls: The Christmas
Episodes 2011. And believe me – this Xmas will be the most fun you’ll have this
year. In the cast are these amazing actors, that look and act surprisingly like
the T.V. Actors. They are: Laurie Bushman, Manuel Caneri, Pollo Del Mar, Cookie
Dough, Heklina and Matthew Martin…with Special guest D’Arcy Drollinger. You’ll
just love these Episodes: During her Christmas visit. Dorothy’s Lesbian friend
Jean falls for the naïve and dorky Rose. Then there is this – Blanche’s gay
brother Clayton stays over with the girls during the Christmas holiday and
‘Surprises’ Blanch with the news that he plans to marry his boyfriend, Diego.
You’ll just love this Laugh-out-loud comedy.
These over the top personalities really make the show
that everyone is talking about. It’s uproariously funny.
WONDERFUL! – GO SEE IT! At the Victoria Theatre
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –
trademarked-
THE TEMPERMENTALS
-- GAY COMMUNISTS?
TEMPERMENTALS was a Gay named Group, and a code word in 1950’s
America. The play is about Harry Hay and a younger Rudi Gernrich, who later
became a famous fashion designer. Rudi was Austrian, Jewish and very Gay. He
fled Austria when he was 16. Harry was an American and a Marxist. He was
married – but Gay.
The beginning of the play starts off with a lot of talk.
Harry tells Rudi about his idea to write a gay rights pamphlet. Rudi thinks it
is too dangerous. However, they agree to do it – founded the organization called
“The Mattachine Society.” Their secret meetings started out with only four
people. However, the word got around and the society attracted hundreds.
The story turns to Dale Jennings, who was arrested for
allegedly saying something off color to a police officer. The officer used “entrapment.”
The word got out and that only enhanced the publicity for the Society.
That was then. Eventually the Society closed shop. Other
secret meeting places took place with other groups. Everyone still had to be
very careful. Now – young people just sort of ignore the whole thing. They
could care less about what their gay forefathers had to go through with the harassment.
But History is important to us all. The play itself is a
little difficult to follow. First of all the dual roles that the actors have to
take over makes the confusion even more mysterious. Maybe that is what they
wanted with the NCTC production.
The set is hardly a set. A few wooden chairs are around
which are used for various things. Office, living space and a hideout.
It’s a demanding play that could have some humor put in it.
After all – they were Gay. Where were the cracker jack comments that Gay people
are famous for?
But the author of this play, written by Jon Marans in 2009
-- has won a bunch of awards. So
on that hand, he has brought out a subject that may or may not make much of
difference in today’s attitude. But, it is interesting to revisit History. The
fight actually is not over. There are still Gay Haters everywhere. Keep that in
mind.
AT THE NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE
RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! – trademarked-
(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San
Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and he has produced and hosted a
long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))
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