As part of a quick and last minute search for something to ‘see’ in San Francisco that included music with a whole lotta smiles, I found myself at Beach Blanket Babylon, a Steve Silver production which claims to be the longest running musical revue in theatre history. The performance is a zany musical spoof of pop culture with extravagant costumes and outrageously huge hats and wigs.
It starts out being painfully bad — the writing and the lead Cinderella character pierces your ears with her shreiking all American voice that just doesn’t work – there’s really nothing positive about it or her. In fact, you think it’s going to be so bad that you brace yourself for the worst and try to take in the musical numbers you know and sip your drink knowing that its your ‘settlement’ prize for not doing a little more research.
Once the Cinderella gig of her trying to find her lost love gets moved a bit to the background, then a little fun begins.
Renee Lubin (left) and the woman who played the versatile characters of the “Italian and French” broad not to mention countless other personalities, stole the show. (couldn’t find her photo in the program or website although it could possibly be Chave Alexander).
Their voices were incredible so what started out as painfully bad started to get better as their voices — and the versatility in their voices, started to shine. The other big bonus were the wigs – one incredible mop after another, including one that looked like Cousin It.
Another highlight was the Barbra Streisand number and Curt Branom’s hilarious character (and costumes) which kept me laughing even after I thought, how did I get turned around.
The acting – nada, don’t go for “it” and certainly don’t go for the wine (pretty close to boxed wine selection on the menu), but do go to laugh and take in the spectacular costumes and wigs, which frankly, are worth going alone. And 95% of the voices in the show were spectacular. Below, a Lady Gaga act, one of the countless personalities and celebs they choose to poke fun of.
Photo Credit David Allen
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Photo credit: Rick Markovich
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
