Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Perusing Provincetown entertainment: Comedy queens, crooning piano men, and musical theater divas

• By drediman
• July 4, 2021
• No Comments

I spent last week in one of my favorite places in the world – that magical destination seemingly at the very tip of the world (i.e., Cape Cod) known as Provincetown. As always, the week was full of fun and revelry, especially heightened and palpable given the year or so that we just endured (and many continue to endure). Indeed, the opportunity to celebrate lifelong friendships and forge new ones – in person – was a gift that I made sure not to take for granted during my vacation. Of course, I also cherished the chance to take in some fabulous in-person entertainment along the way, which I’ve chronicled below.

Provincetown’s drag scene is dominated by so-called comedy queens, whose talents revolve around whipping out a constant barrage of sassy, often risqué quips. The drag shows I perused happily showcased the fact that these queens are just as sharp this side of lockdown as they were before. The larger-than-life Paige Turner (Joyride at the Pilgrim House) and Varla Jean Merman (Little Prick at the Crown & Anchor) continue to slyly use their gee whiz charm to camouflage their uncanny ability to come up with slicing double entendres. Also playing the Pilgrim House is Miss Richfield 1981 (celebrating 40 Years on the Throne), who picks off where she left off by giving a masterclass in reading and interacting with audiences. Then there’s the singular Dina Martina, whose new show Chariots of Failure happily exhibits the same polarizing otherworldly kookiness for which she’s become iconic.

There are also some rather talented piano men crooning the night away at such venues as Dive Bar (at the Crown & Anchor), Porchside Bar, and the Pilgrim House. Over the course of the week, I got to see longtime entertainer Bobby Wetherbee, Jon Richardson, and Todd Alsup take to the piano like kids at a playground in front of a cocktailing crowd raring to get their sing-along on. As these free-wheeling, request-driven evenings – which fluidly span Broadway show tunes and the popular songbook – wore on, I couldn’t help but wonder whether I’ve reached some sort of utopia. These performances are also the perfect way to conclude the night if you’re feeling too low energy to brave the packed and sweaty dance floor over at the A-House.

Lastly, I was able to attend the opening night performances of a pair of musical theater divas. Thanks largely to Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway at the Art House series, Provincetown has been a summer haven for Broadway stars. First up, I caught the incredibly talented Christina Bianco’s show Crowd Control poolside at the Crown & Anchor. Best known for her inspired impersonations (from Celine Dion to Bernadette Peters), she shined brightly throughout her hugely entertaining concert. Most surprising and thrilling for me, however, was when she set parody aside to put her own stamp on a straightforward rendition of “Maybe This Time”. Then over at the Art House, I caught golden-voiced Sierra Boggess (The Phantom of the Opera, The Little Mermaid, It Shoulda Been You), as accompanied by Mr. Rudetsky. As always, Mr. Rudetsky brings out the best in his guest stars, producing a number of priceless moments of intimacy and/or hilarity, which in this concert included a wonderful and moving tribute to the late Broadway soprano Rebecca Luker.