Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The iconic JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, with vivacious openers The Illustrious Blacks, reopen Joe’s Pub

• By drediman
• October 7, 2021
• No Comments

This week, Joe’s Pub reopened its doors at the Public Theater with a weeklong run of Justin Vivian Bond’s latest cabaret act Storming the Glamparts, which I attended last night. All in all, the performance was a festive occasion that had me grinning from ear to ear throughout the evening.

Before the main event, the night commenced with a vivacious opening act, courtesy of The Illustrious Blacks. Costumed as sparkling space travelers (complete with fabulously bedazzled head pieces), the pair of Monstah Black and Manchildblack disco’d and funked there way through a highly choreographed, EDM-heavy set. Simultaneously joyous and sassy, the performance ultimately had the audience out of their seats dancing to the duo’s ecstatic Afrofuturistic vision of utopia.

Then after a short pause, the iconic Justin Vivian Bond (fresh from killing it with Anthony Roth Costanzo in Only an Octave Apart at St. Ann’s Warehouse) gave the raring audience what they wanted. Donning a free flowing summer dress and their larger-than-life Auntie Glam wig, the legendary downtown cabaret artist was their typical self, easily seducing the audience with their signature urbane yet “awe-shucks” banter and distinctive gravelly singing voice. From the moment they stepped in front of the audience singing a forceful rendition of Pink’s “Get the Party Started”, Justin – who has a way with songs that often transfigures them in unexpected and delectable ways – had the capacity crowd in the palm of their hand.

Welcome back to the nightlife fray, Joe’s Pub. We’ve missed you, and I look forward to spending many a night basking in your reliably eclectic programming.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND: STORMING THE GLAMPARTS WITH OPENER THE ILLUSTRIOUS BLACKS
Cabaret
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater
2 hours, 30 minutes (with a short pause)
Through October 9