The ongoing saga of the Beebo Brinker Chronicles continued last night at The Re-Bar, in the third of four Pulp Cabarets. This month’s show focused on the character of Beth, a woman who left her husband and children to be true to herself in New York City, and to seek her long lost lover, Laura. Instead of Laura, however, she finds Beebo. A lusty affair ensues. With author, Ann Bannon looking on, the cast of performers explored the themes of self discovery, denial, repression, self loathing and the ever present threat of legal repercussion against lesbians and other gay people during the 50s.
Cherry Manhattan as the hostess is charming, witty, and elegant. Lyla La Coeur’s emceed with a breathy sweetness that bordered on mischievous naiveté. The evening’s dramatic reading, narrating the meeting between Beth and Beebo was delivered by Miss Elaine Yes and acted out (in comic melodrama style) by Diva la Deviant and Randy Andy. Gun Street Glory, provided musical embellishments, and entertainment; and though the lead singer’s vocal style made me fear for her voice, her showmanship was impressive.
The evening’s other entertainments included burlesque by Violet Tendencies, Minetta Lane, Miss Kitty Baby, and Jess Belle-Jones. EmpeROAR Fabulous!!! offered an emotionally charged piece of spoken word poetry and Daddy-O channeled beatnik culture in a capella style. Finally, Fuschia FoXXX returned to the stage, bringing us back to the central themes of the show; overcoming self-loathing, and embracing the blurred lines of gender.
Something this time around that did not click as well as it did for me at the first cabaret, was the convention of introducing the performers as characters from the books. Whether it was the subject matter, or the writing, I’m not sure, but many of the introductions felt forced into place. It worked. It just didn’t flow as smoothly as it could have.
Still, the show was very well put together. It had a nice mix of style and art form; and it had some good comedy. It never quite reached the level of dramatic engagement where I felt like I was in that Greenwich Village speakeasy, but it was enough that I could forget I was sitting in a bar… until I picked up my pack and found it coated with someone’s spilled beverage. Meh.
The moral of the story? If you aren’t good to yourself, you are no good to anybody.
The Beebo Brinker project is an ongoing series of events that will continue next month with the final Pulp Cabaret. Following the cabaret series there will be an engagement at ACT’s Central Heating Lab of the best of the series, and will finally lead into the Seattle premiere of the theatrical adaptation of The Beebo Brinker Chronicles which will play at The Re-Bar in September-October.
Loves,
~ Fosse Jack
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