Spotlight: Kaleidoscope Dreams

In the “Spotlight” shows, Freddy Prinze Charming has produced something truly remarkable.  These shows, always fresh and innovative, transcend the lip synching and campiness of traditional drag shows, becoming something closer akin to theater.  

In last Friday’s offering, “Kaleidoscope Dreams”, no act highlighted the innovation of this troupe more admirably than the opening act.  The “Dexter” routine, while at times slightly under-dramatized, was none-the-less disturbing and highly erotic.   The act itself was good, but the prelude (which doubled as a pre-show for the entire night) was pure genius.   The eerily sensual vision of an unconscious and nearly nude victim strapped to an operating table (Melody) was presented to the audience for nearly fifteen minutes before the show started.   Dexter (Eddie C. Broadway) came out unannounced.  The audience, accustomed to having hosts open shows with short monologues to whip up enthusiasm, didn’t realize the show had actually started until well into the number. 

  

This pre-show and opening act was the most skillful bit of showmanship this reviewer has ever witnessed.

Drag king shows are traditionally all about “male illusion”  … that is, feminine women aspiring to look as much like men as possible.   “MI” performers are often judged by how effectively and completely they pull off the illusion.  I appreciate the pains these performers go to for their art, but I must confess to being partial to kings who manage to maintain an air of womanliness under their facial hair.  It’s as though the male illusion augments rather than replaces the female reality.  Few performers are as adept at this as Johnny Rush, whose sensually androgynous routines managed to appeal to everyone …male, female, gay, and straight.  The impassioned cries of “Johnny! Johnny” from adoring fans whenever he appeared proved that he is a crowd favorite. 

Male Illusionists can be a dour group, probably stemming from the desire to mimic stereotypic male coolness.  It often falls on the (usually) lone drag queen to provide comic relief.  The always ravishing Felicia Minor was completely up to this task, giving the right amount of camp humor with sultry moves and spectacular costuming. 

There were some false steps, mostly involving a visible lack of polish in some of the numbers.  One of the performers seems to think that simply stamping petulantly back and forth across the stage collecting tips constitutes an act.  The duet of the femmes (Robin Hart and Melody) had the potential to be mind-blowingly erotic.  But that potentiality was for the most part unrealized.   I know that the producers had considerable difficulty with performers backing out of the show at the last minute.  It showed.   Many of the acts in the third rounds felt like rushed add-ons and were not as polished as those in the first round.   This wearied the audience such that the big finale, Freddy Prinze Charming’s Oz medley, which should have been a show stopper, fell somewhat flat.  

These problems were minor, however, and did not distract appreciably from the entertainment value of the show in general.   These spotlight shows just keep getting better and better.   I always think they can’t possibly top themselves and I am always wrong.   Anyone…gay or straight, male or female, or anything in between…will  enjoy what are proving to be the best locally produced variety shows in the area.