San Francisco's Treasure BBB Continues to Fascinate SRO Crowds After 30+ Years
Beach Blanket Babylon originally conceived, written & directed by Steve Silver/ directed & choreographed by Kenny Mazlow/ Club Fugazi, North Beach, San Francisco/ will play: forever......
Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon which took San Francisco by storm in 1974 plays internationally and in 2010 is more of a phenomenon than ever before. In this era of superfast pace and creative madness, it's a perfect fit.Since camp and over-the-top lunacy define the style of this irreverent musical parody of people - celebrities, politicians and folks of every nationality, creed and color, it is constantly in flux. As the year changes, so do the celebs. The Obamas, Susan Boyle, Lady Gaga, the Jonas Brothers are all currently a vibrant part of it. Musically, BBB has the old standards and rock, pop hits like "Aquarius" or "Goin' to th Chapel", with some reworded like "Defying Gravity" from Wicked becoming "Surviving Gravity" for an aging Madonna. It's pop culture gone wild, as the Teabaggers are on an equal plane with Snow White or Elvis. There are sight gags galore and double entendres! And, speaking of visuals, that inimitable headgear-for which the show is most famous, is not to be believed! Amazing! Take, for example, Tina Turner's awesome layered look, or Whoopi's braids, or Elvis' or Bill Clinton's manes, or Carmen Miranda's Tutti Frutti Hat: as tall as Miranda herself. The finale with the skyline of San Francisco and the wedding cake with the Seven Dwarfs inside on top of performers' heads - cannot be duplicated. Steve Silver designed it and Steve Silver's show it deserves to stay!
This current cast is astounding - all 10 with the greatest sets of pipes one will hear in any show anywhere. Shawna Ferris is an innocent gem as Snow, Renee Lubin awe-inspiring as the Fairy Godmother Glinda, Tammy Nelson, fabe (fabay), most notably with "Be Italian" in the Rome segment, Caitlin McGinty, Jacqui Heck, Paulino Duran, Doug Magpiong, Ryan Rigazzi, Philip PerCy Williams - and Curt Branom infectious as King Louis. They all are sensational vocally and versatile in an endless array of quick character and costume changes. There must be close to 100, or so it seems. Hats off as well to a small but phenomenal orchestra!
BBB - it now has a Boulevard named after it. Someone once said that elements of pop culture will die out, that celebrities at some point will be forgotten. Well, Beach Blanket Babylon shows no signs of retiring, so as long as it runs, they will reign eternal! Crazy, lunatic satire that is uniquely San Francisco in every way! If you're passing through, don't miss it; it's as much a part of San Fran as the Transamerica Pyramid or the Golden Gate Bridge!
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The Secret Garden Warren Theater at Sonoma State University (6/12-6/28) |
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Comedy Oakland at Elbo Room Thu July 30 8pm Elbo Room Jack London (7/30-7/30) |
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DRACULA ORINDA STARLIGHT VILLAGE PLAYERS (9/04-9/26) |
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The Death of Meyerhold Shotgun Players Ashby Stage (11/28-1/01) |