Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Harvey Fierstein is Bella Abzug in BELLA BELLA, a show that’s both vintage Bella and Harvey

• By drediman
• October 23, 2019
• No Comments

Harvey Fierstein in Manhattan Theatre Club’s “Bella Bella” at New York City Center. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

Last night, the indelible Harvey Fierstein’s Bella Bella opened Off-Broadway at New York City Center, courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club. In the new solo show, Mr. Fierstein himself portrays feminist and political rabble-rouser (and hat-monger) Bella Abzug. Set in a hotel room on the night of the 1976 Democratic primary as votes are being tallied, the play finds the uncompromising Ms. Abzug ruminating on her bid to become New York State’s first female Senator (she would ultimately lose to Daniel Patrick Moynihan) and the events that have led her to that point.

The play channels Ms. Abzug largely by stringing together preexisting primary sources (e.g., statements, writings). As such, there’s a collage-like, one-sided – and therefore somewhat one dimensional – quality to the evening. Which is just fine with me. Ms. Abzug is such an iconic, sassy, and strong New York personality that just being in the same room and spending time with the resuscitated woman and her fabulous name-dropping stories is entertaining enough, regardless of your politics. The MTC production has been directed with a light touch by Kimberly Senior, who largely stays out of Mr. Fierstein’s way.

When I first heard of the play and Mr. Fierstein’s involvement in it, I thought that he would be appearing in drag, à la his Tony-winning turn as Hairspray‘s Edna Turnblad. However, in Bella Bella, he takes the opposite approach, portraying Ms. Abzug simply as himself, garbed simply in all-black, with the appropriate exception of a striking red hat, which he occasionally uses as a prop. And why shouldn’t he appear as himself? Bella Bella is also vintage Harvey Fierstein – warm, very funny, and a distinct combination of both tartness and sweetness. Additionally, by taking on the role sans drag, he smartly removes an unnecessary layer of camp that I suspect would have minimized his subject.

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BELLA BELLA
Off-Broadway, Play
Manhattan Theatre Club / New York City Center
1 hour, 30 minutes
Through December 1