What I liked
A piece that would have been right at home in Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theatrical Company, “A Historical Gay Comedy Starring Nancy Reagan” is a delightful showcase for the considerable talent of its creator, Seamus Mulcahy. I must admit that any show that directly references Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Follies, The Music Man, The Second Barbra Streisand Album (or, more likely, the Color Me Barbra television special where she sang Gotta Move all decked out with vibrant pop art color as she traipsed around the Philadelphia Art Museum), Liza with a Z (or, if you’re truly hardcore, the Kander & Ebb show 70, Girls, 70), The Boys in the Band, Cats, and Gypsy is speaking my love language. (I agree that the first angel I expect to see in heaven is Barbara Cook.) The clown aspect of the show confounded me going in – that is until Nancy spent a few post-piano recital moments showing us the range of her expressions. Seamus can say a lot without saying a word, and most of it is hilarious. But it can be touching, as well. Reimagining the real Nancy’s “Just Say No to Drugs” speech through a slightly different filter was absolutely inspired. And his contrasting recitations of Frank O’Hara’s poem “Ave Maria” demonstrated that in the hands of a gifted actor, the exact same words can elicit completely different emotional responses. I would have been happy to spend a lot more time with Nancy – and I can’t wait to see what Seamus comes up with next!
What I didn't like
I have one quibble with something Nancy said. She said heaven is a bunch of stages with performances going on for all eternity but there’s no one in the audience – because who would go to heaven and want to be in the audience? Ummm….that would be ME, Miss Nancy. My personal idea of heaven is moving through time and space and getting to see the opening night of all those shows you referenced and a million other theatrical moments that exist for a moment and then evaporate into the ether. Heaven is the ether, and I’m all set for an eternity of watching Ethel and Angela and Barbra and Barbara and Gwen and Chita and ad infinitum…..
My overall impression
An existential gay jigsaw puzzle
