The Legend of Georgia McBride
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Cititour.com Review
The theatrical equivalent of a feel-good movie, Matthew Lopez’s “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” now being presented by MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel under Mike Donahue’s swift direction, is likely to leave a smile on your lips and song or two (and your brain), even while it chooses to only superficially engage your brain.
Lopez’s premise focuses on a young, very straight entertainer named Casey (the highly appealing and decidedly pretty Dave Thomas Brown) who is forced to abandon his Elvis-imitator act and, at least for one night, become a drag queen in order to get paid by gruff bar own Eddie (a funny Wayne Duvall). Casey ultimately proves to not only be very accomplished at this form of work, but embraces it almost wholeheartedly – the exception being not telling his pregnant wife Joy (a sassy Afton Williamson) how he makes his living. There’s a deeper story here about Casey’s ambivalence and the role of gender fluidity and discrimination here, but that issue only emerges briefly and with little introspection.
You won’t really care, probably, given the presence of Casey’s mentor, “Tracy Mills” (aka Bob), an over-the-top queen with a flair for fashion, a passion for performing, along with a tart tongue and a sad heart, brilliantly embodied by Matt McGrath. This versatile actor creates a magnificent three-dimensional character, whose presence is missed every time he/she is absent from the stage.
If some of this reminds you of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” you’re probably right. There’s even a perpetually drunk, blazingly bitter drag queen on hand named Anorexia Nervosa, superbly played by the wonderful Keith Nobbs (who also does double duty in the minor role of Casey and Jo’s blue-collar pal/landlord Jason). All that’s missing is that broken-down bus.
What isn’t missing, however, is tons of fun music – a couple of longish segments of the show are completely devoted to Brown and McGrath performing (with McGrath almost out lip-syncing Lypsinka at one point, and Brown shining on a variety of country numbers, including Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman”). And there’s an appropriately soaring finale that almost puts “Mamma Mia!” to shame: the cast emerges in gold glitter for a rousing rendition of Little Mix’s “Wings,” whose lyrics (if you listen) reinforce Lopez’s timely message of self-empowerment.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.mcctheater.org/shows/15-16_season/georgiamcbride/index.html
Cast
Dave Thomas Brown, Wayne Duvall, Matt McGrath, Keith Nobbs, Afton C. Williamson
Open/Close Dates
Opening 8/20/2015
Closing 10/11/2015
Box Office
866-811-4111
Theatre Info
Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street
New York, NY 10014
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