THE HANGOVER REPORT – RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite Ginger Minj and her sidekick Gidget Galore team up for a breezy sister act in THE BROADS WAY

Ginger Minj and Gidget Galore in “The Broads Way” at The Green Room 42 (photo by Adrian Dimanlig).

In between some heavy theater-going, I was able to tuck in (pun intended!) The Broads Way, a breezy cabaret show written and performed by RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite Ginger Minj and her equally fabulous sidekick Gidget Galore. Currently playing until Monday at The Green Room 42 in Hell’s Kitchen, the show comes to the Big Apple after having enjoyed a hit run in the gay mecca that is Provincetown. In essence, the show is a silly sister act-style homage to Broadway musicals – both old and new – particularly those featuring larger-than-life divas (but of course).

Suffice to say, the show provides levity for those looking for easy escapism. The Broads Way features solid old school drag entertainment that refreshingly focuses on live singing over your predicable drag-style lip synching (the one exception is a delightful five minute medley mash-up of ten popular musicals). Although the show doesn’t quite reach the witty comic heights of the best of the Forbidden Broadway series, I nonetheless relished the drag spin on the Broadway canon – complete with catty banter and a number of fabulous costume changes! – and Ginger and Gidget’s chemistry, utter professionalism, and commitment to the moment. And running just about an hour, the show doesn’t outstay its welcome, definitely leaving audiences wanting more. If anything, perhaps a proper encore would have rounded out the experience in a more satisfying manner.

At the opening performance I attended, both Ginger and Gidget were in sturdy voice, ably putting over some iconic Broadway showstoppers with cheeky glee. The big, belty diva moments decidedly fell with Ginger, and she did not disappoint with fierce renditions of “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard and “Rose’s Turn” from Gypsy (Gidget did shine in a comic “Tomorrow” from Annie). As a dynamic duo, they nailed “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun, as well as “Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago (complete with much of Bob Fosse’s original choreography). Will the Great White Way come calling?

RECOMMENDED

THE BROADS WAY
Cabaret
The Green Room 42
Approximately 1 hour (without an intermission)
Through February 12

Categories: Cabaret

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