THE HANGOVER REPORT – The irrepressible MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER brings down the house at Joe’s Pub with an invigorating show

Martha Graham Cracker performs at Joe’s Pub (photo by Adrian Dimanlig).

This past Monday, I had the chance to catch up with Martha Graham Cracker’s latest show at Joe’s Pub. This beloved Philadelphia-based drag queen is a fascinating beast. Out of drag, Martha — a.k.a. Dito van Reigersberg — is a busy and notable theater-maker (they’re the co-founder of the adventurous Pig Iron Theatre). As such, you can count on a healthy dose of intoxicating theatricality and even rocker vibes whenever you come see a Martha Graham Cracker show. This drag queen is also unafraid to show off her masculine side — unshaved body hair and all — and swagger like a dude.

The result is an invariably unique and invigorating experience from the perspective of the audience. Thankfully, the irrepressible performer did not disappoint this go around, bringing down the house with an absolutely sensational show. Coming off of a health scare — she recently triumphed over a bout with leukemia — I’m happy to report that Martha is more gruffly fabulous than ever. Looking especially glamorous in a fitted summer dress and a flattering blue wig (complete with butterflies nestled amongst firm curls!), her uncanny sense of timing and famously witty banter were razor sharp and on point. And given her theater background, she moved her show commandingly along — dynamically utilizing every square inch of Joe’s Pub as her stage — all the while taking the time to bask in the moment to engage with her adoring audience.

Musically, the evening was a delight. As usual, Martha — who was in robust voice and backed by her terrific longtime band — cherry-picked her way through the pop/rock songbook, starting with a deliciously droll rendition of the Radiohead classic “Freak” and further steamrolling through other classic songs by the likes of Madonna, Janis Joplin, and other icons. Terrific highlights were two song mash-ups (among many a mash-up) — the first was culled from Led Zeppelin head-bangers, and the other was the spectacular concluding mash-up, which all but threw the kitchen sink into the mix. Suffice to say, we all left on a buzzy high.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER
Cabaret
Joe’s Pub
1 hour, 20 minutes (with no intermission)
Closed

Categories: Cabaret, Music, Other Music

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