DIRTY LITTLE SHOWTUNES!: Musical Revue. Written by Tom Orr. Conceived and Directed by F. Allen Sawyer. Musical Direction by Scrumbly Koldewynn. Choreographed by Jayne Zaban. Starring (alphabetically): Rotimi Agbabiaka, David Bicha, Daryl Clark, Jesse Cortez, Tom Orr, Randy Noak. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC), Decker Theatre, 25 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA. 415-864-8972 or www.nctcsf.org Through November 10-2013. [rating:5]
DIRTY LITTLE SHOWTUNES! is back and good as ever at NCTC.
The spellchecker in MS Word keeps trying to correct the spelling of ‘showtunes’ to ‘show tunes.’ But it is not to be in this review of this revue since there is nothing ‘correct’ about the 16th incarnation of this hilariously energetic production that defines the basic three “Rs”. . . Racy, Ribald and Risqué. It earns the exclamation mark that is integral to the title.
The entire evening is a parody of songs from about 25 Broadway shows lasting about two hours including the 20 minute intermission. That intermission is needed to regroup your brain cells that have gone astray trying to identify which song is from which show. We reviewers received a list of the songs and the shows involved. (A little secret: There is a stack of sheets listing the songs behind the box office desk. Just ask and you shall certainly receive.)
Rotimi Agbabiaka
The marvelous Tom Orr and David Bicha are the only hold-overs from the original show and they are matched song for song and dance for dance with the naughty energetic Rotimi Agbabiaka, the willowy charming Randy Noak and the innocent (in looks only) Jesse Cortez that you will not recognize in drag. Daryl Clark was absent from some shows and in football parlance is probably on injured reserve.
The show would not be complete without the extremely talented musical director Scrumbly Koldewynn who has aged gracefully since his Cockette days and is riot when he deserts his piano to take the stage in a simplified English Busker jacket (complete with white buttons) for the second act entr’acte patter song, “Stupid Silly Paranoid Theatric Superstitions!” (“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” – Mary Poppins).
(l to r) Jesse Cortez, Tom Orr, Randy Noak, Rotimi Agbabiaka
The ensemble reminds us in an opening number “Parody Tonight” (“Comedy Tonight” – Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum) that probably protects them from plagiarism law suits. Consider “How Do You Solve Your Problem Gonorrhea?” (“How Do you Solve a Problem like Maria” – The Sound of Music), “Turn in Your Fag Card” (“Brush Up Your Shakespeare” – Kiss Me Kate), “Bossy Bottoms” ((“Bosom Buddies” – Mame), I Am The Very Model of A Modern Homosexual (The Pirates of Penzance) and “The Lady is a Man” (“The Lady Is A Tramp” – Pal Joey)
The list goes on and on with each member of the cast getting to strut their stuff upon the stage receiving great appreciative applause. The ensemble numbers are humorously choreographed and the drag costumes a hoot and a holler. They don’t frolic in the most stunning drag costumes until the second but in act one two “nuns” bring down the house with the naughty, naughty Maria number.
Favorite production numbers are “The Leatherman & Drag Queen Suite” (South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Westside Story, and Oklahoma) and “Nude” (to the tune of “Mame” with choreography stolen from The Full Monty). To answer your question “Do they do the full Monty??” you will have go see the show. Highly recommended by this reviewer and my straight-laced seating companion.
(l-r), Jesse Cortez, David Bicha, Tom Orr, Rotimi Agbabiaka, Randy Noak in the “Nude” number (The Full Monty).
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
