WHAT: The Legend of Georgia McBride
WHERE: Players' Ring
BLURB: A Interesting Premise
HIGH POINT: The Top Queen
It's the wit and the swagger of one audacious lady that keeps The Legend of Georgia McBride afloat and ridiculous funny.
First, it would be misleading to not acknowledge this production has numerous issues upfront. But worse still would be not noting, in spite of that, Georgia McBride remains entertaining, thanks to the radiant queen Miss Tracy Mills (Lady Ro).
The play is set in modern times Florida. Casey (Aaron Bencks) , a young married man, makes his living as an Elvis Presley Impersonator at Cleo's Club. Unfortunately it's not much of a living, and his job, combined with his wife's wages, rarely cover the bills.
In quick succession Casey learns he's lost his spot at the club to a Drag Queen show, that his landlord is evicting him unless the rent is paid, and that he and his wife are expecting a child.
Thanks to the intervention of the kind queen, Miss Tracy Mills, owner of the two-person troupe, Casey is kept on as a barman.
Week's later, when the only other queen in the troupe goes AWOL just before a performance, Tracy talks Casey into performing drag to save the show. After all, she notes, he is/was a performer.
And so starts a new career, a major learning curve, and a whole new set of problems.
McBride's script by Matthew Lopez is good, but not flawless. What keeps it interesting is an intriguing premise and its plethora of hilarious one-liners.
The show's core issues lie in Director Joe Juknievich's choices in casting and character development.
Lady Ro, through sheer talent, unintentionally steals and owns this show. She's everything a self-assured queen should be, brassy, sassy, and funny as hell, not to mention absolutely endearing. Lady Ro is thoroughly convincing as the older, seasoned performer with a heart and a history.
Each of the remaining cast comes with their individual concerns, some rooted in Juknievich's choices.
Bencks is miscast as Casey. There is something sweetly charming about the actor, very likable. But the amiable, people-pleasing personality seems at odds with Casey's reluctance to perform in the drag show.
That aside, Benchks skill-set doesn't support the roles requirements as an Elvis impersonator, nor as a flamboyant dancer, a required talent, among others, for a quick rise to fame as a drag queen.
Andy LeBlanc is hilarious and natural as Roxy, the second queen, a real cheeky sort.
As the neighbor Jason, LeBlanc also builds a clear, strong, cartoon (magically rubber-faced) character. He nails the chosen persona. As good as it is, the characterization isn't quite a fit with the play's overall landscape, again the director's choice.
Comments