DAME EDNA - FOOTLIGHT PARADE

BUZZIN' - LEE HARTGRAVE

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JOHN GUARE. It’s all in the “Footlight Parade”

DAME EDNA –
“ZESTY BIG LAUGHS”

No one is safe from Dame Edna’s insidious charm. At the beginning of the show, the Dame says off stage: “I know that all Theaters tell you before the show starts to shut your cell phones off and that Text Messaging is not allowed. Here, we encourage you to talk all you want on your cell phone. Have people call you up, and text all you want. It’s encouraged. Of course, we will unceremoniously have you removed from the audience!”

The show opens with a lavish Video of Dame Edna showing her at a young age and beyond. The Video is entitled “True Hollywood Stories” – and shows how hilariously perceptive this ‘Dame’ is. In the same vein – it occurred to me, that the Dame could do a take-off on the ending scene of the movie “Chicago”. Toting a Gun, with blazing lights in the background -- she would be a hoot. Talk about Razzle Dazzle – Edna already has the sparkling outfits.

Purple is her thing. The magnificent Curtains and Drapes on each side of the stage and at the back of the stage flow over to the Dame’s Hair that is a brilliant purple. Her outrageous Costumes vary from bright red to sexy blue. And of course there are the bejeweled glasses that give her that look of ‘privilege.’ And believe me, she takes advantage of that.

She looks plaintively at the Balcony. There is a sort of a “poor darlings” sound in her voice, as she addresses the “Needy”. “Poor Possums” she says – “They are the Les Miserable group -- all Stock Market Investors. Hang onto the railings Possums, things may eventually turn around for you.” Yep, you got it -- the Dame is Don Rickles in Drag!

She invites people up to the stage who will be skewered, as she charms them with viper charm. Luring the Lambs from the audience is a work of art. They are reluctant at first, but then succumb to her tricky ways. There is no way that I would ever get on the stage with The Dame. With her sweet words she wraps her charm around you – and then the gloves come off, as she says to one of the guests from the audience, who she has just offered wine to. “Careful of the wine Possum, you don’t want anymore stains on that outfit.” And to an older Gentlemen, she asks him how old are you Senior?” He tells her: Edna says: “Really? – I would have guessed older.” Yep, in spite of her sweetness and light – Edna is mean spirited. However, she plays her victims like a violin, making it seem perfectly all right to insult. How does she get away with it? Well, it seems that the Dame has a vast understanding of personalities. She knows what will work and what won’t.

She calls her show ‘Live and Intimate’. To prove it – she asks a man to touch her hand. “Go ahead Possum, I’m real. Touch me. The show is all about being intimate. He reaches out touches her hand. She gets a fainting look on her face and smells her hand after he lets go. “Where have you been fondling Possum – something in between? It has a cheesy smell to it.” I could explain this further, but I think you can come to your own conclusion.

“What a handsome audience. Their faces are like flowers – Cactus!” She doesn’t want to leave anyone out. Everyone gets zapped one way or another. Zooming in on a woman in the audience Edna quips: “You’re Gorgeous, but you look like a woman with special needs.”

To another Audience member: “Describe what you’re wearing dear.” When the lady couldn’t describe it. Edna helps out. “Oh, I see – affordable! You remind me so much of myself – I used to make my own things.” The Dame is known for all her Jewelry. She looks like a mobile Jewelry store.

Dame brings up a Livermore, Ca Baker to the stage. “What’s the name of your bakery? She asks. “Little Lover,” – he says. So Edna gives him one of those ‘wise’’ looks, then she decides to marry off the guy to a stranger (a woman) who has just lost her husband. Wait, it gets even more bizarre. It’s Midnight in New York, and she calls the woman’s daughter to give her the good news that her mother has just married a Baker. All this takes place over a speakerphone, so that the whole audience can listen in. Very funny repartee!

To a Pacific Heights socialite that was in the Audience the Dame sez: “You look so Pacific Heights. You smell so Duty Free.” At the end of the show Dame Edna brings out bundles of Gladiolus that she tosses out into the audience. The audience loves it – and grabs the air furiously for a free flower. “These are for you Possums. They are organically grown in my own manure.” Now, how’s that for good taste and political incorrectness? Dame Edna should run for President. “It’s the perfect Holiday show and extra Hilarious!”

AT THE POST STREET THEATRE

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))

****For more reviews check out www.beyondchron.org

>>>FOOTLIGHT PARADE*

IT’S A RARE TREAT! Master American playwright, John Guare will be part of the Koret Visiting Artist Series. At A.C.T. He will be in residence at the gorgeous A.C.T.
A.CT. PRESENTS A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN GUARE. This is exciting. John Guare will be part of the Koret Visiting Artist Series. He will be in residence at A.C.T.
Theatre on Geary Street in preparation for the first major revival of his really, really funny “Rich and Famous.” Guare has made significant rewrites to his original 1976 text. The conversation with Guare will take place on the American Conservatory Stage on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2009, at 10am. www.act-sf.org.

NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’ STARRING CHARLES DEAN. White Christmas “Wowed” audiences in San Francisco for two seasons. But the New York Times reviewer said: “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is as conscientiously G-rated a musical as you’ll find on Broadway. Still, it ought to have an audience advisory – for diabetics.” Buzzin’ thinks that Christmas is just not this reviewers, thing. Sure it’s light and fluffy, but what is Christmas? It’s supposed to be light, fun, fluffy and sweet – Scrooge!

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THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE at The Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. Wow! What fun awaits you in this riveting play. Gabe Marin stars as the “Disciple” and you can’t keep your eyes off of him, he commands the stage. A compelling show that is charged with vitality, wit and wisdom. See it while you can.

More reviews at www.beyondchron.org.

AND THAT’S A WRAP!