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Virgin Mary, Make Mine a Double
By Amanda Cooper
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George W. Bush, Pope John Paul, Andrew Lloyd Weber -- my axis of evil- ---Lea DeLaria
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Lea DeLaria
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Virgin Mary, Make Mine a Double is sub-titled A Very Lea Christmas, and indeed it is. Writer/performer DeLaria leads the audience and her back-up band (drummer Barbara Merjan, pianist Whitney Ashe and Bass player Matt Hughes) on an honest (thus twisted) journey through her holiday-infused mind. It is impossible not to laugh. Everything DeLaria does is hysterical and even she cannot help but laugh at herself at times.
This is a jazzy cabaret show that has oomphn instead of plot. Sure, there are sketches in which DeLaria "saves Christmas" by singing and cheering up Santa, but the only connection between this and the "Whack a Butt Plug" song is DeLaria's train of thought. Though her thinking can become silly, dirty, ridiculous, and offensive, she is a most loveable stage presence. Her interacting with the audience confirms her stellar ability for improv.
The Belt Theater is decorated for the holidays to an ironic extreme. Underscoring this irony is a large vodka bottle placed on the piano from which DeLaria often takes gigantic swigs (it's water). If you have any animosity towards the holiday spirit, or even just towards the commercial traditions of Christmas, Virgin Mary, Make Mine a Double may be just what Santa didn't order.
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Virgin Mary, Make Mine a Double
Created and performed by: Lea DeLaria Band: Barbara Merjan, Whitney Ashe and Matt Hughes Running Time , One and a half hours, no intermission The Belt Theater (sister of The Zipper Theater), 336 West 37th Street (between 8th and 9th). Tickets: 212.563.0485 or at the door. December 4 - 20, 2003 Thursdays and Fridays at 9PM, Saturdays 9PM and 11PM. Tickets are $35 -$15 Reviewed by Amanda Cooper based on December 6th performance |
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6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
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