The Legend of Georgia McBride (from July 3)

[Backtracking my backtracking!  I missed an event...ooops.]

Tuesday, July 3rd, saw me back at the theatre to see the final production of the Round House Theatre of Bethesda, Maryland's production of "The Legend of Georgia McBride".  It's a lovely comedy that will inevitably conger up comparisons with "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".  Though it's not a road trip show, and the lead isn't gay, but it is about the idea of Drag writ large.  A desperate failing night club owner on Florida's panhandle coast and his overly ambitious, but otherwise unremarkable Elvis Impersonator star hit rock bottom necessitating drastic measures that for the owner means inviting his Drag Queen cousin and her unstable side kick to town to take over the show.  Only he never mentioned this to his Elvis wannabe and now he and his young wife are expected their first child.  Goodness me!  What will come of this?  High jinx, transformations, betrayals, redemptions and LOTS of drag!  I have to say, it was a helluva lot of fun.

As a hapless and hopelessly sincere bon vivant boy-man, Zack Powell plays his transition from Elvis to Georgia via Edith Piaf with great aplomb and more than a little joyous abandon.  He also learns a valuable life lesson about the true nature of drag in the lives of its devotees.  Charlie Kevin also manages the role of the red necked night club owner with pitch perfect metamorphosis.  But the real star of this rodeo is Rick Hammerly.  Rick in the role of the older wiser transvestite cousin for whom drag is more than just a way to entertain the troops is every inch the part.  His comic timing is atomic-perfection.  If the show had just been a drag review staring him, it would have been every inch as entertaining, but within the context of the show was even better.  The only problem with this show is that it had to end.

Yesenia Iglesias as Jo and Zack Powell as Casey (a.k.a Georgia McBride)

Dezi Bing in the role of the hard drinking sidekick Rexy

Rick Hammerly as Miss Tracey Mills helping Casy discover that Drag isn't as easy as it might seem.

When Rexy passes out, Casey is drafted to perform as Edith Piaf...and a star is born!...well, sort of.

In tough times, don't you mess with Miss Tracey Mills!

In the end...All's Drag that ends Drag, and a good time was had by all!