I went to see Dina Martina at Re-Bar this last Friday. They are calling the show her Cherished Chestnuts, favorites from her entire career, and for good reason.
You can pay all sorts of admission 
rates to see various acts but I have to say that this was the best $20 I have ever spent on a show before. Truly, it was remarkably funny from beginning to end. There is not a show in the city that comes close to the freakishly hilarious antics of Dina Martina, with every jumbled pronunciation that comes out of her mouth, carefully crafted to illicit non-stop laughter from the audience. It is impressive when you see just how diverse the audience is, yet everyone is having a such good time throughout the show.
She returns to Seattle with what she calls her “jifts” for the audience and her creepy puppet daughter, Phoebe (pronounced fo-eh-bee) but this time she is without her absurdly stoic accompanist Chris Jeffries.
Dina Martina sporting her infamous camel-toejumpsuit at a Triple Door performance last year.
Grady West was born and raised in Seattle and has performed the Dina Martina character for 20 years. Dina Martina was supposely born in the Appalachians and raised in Vegas and she always returns to Seattle and performs here but she is in demand around the world, including sold out shows in places like London, Provincetown and New York.
When London’s Time Out asked her to describe the experience:
I’ve heard different people say that the show is “hilariously painful”, “excruciatingly funny”, “like Las Vegas on crack” and “beautifully grotesque”. My mother used to say it was “an immensely entertaining tragedy”. Actually, her nickname for me was “Little Tragedy”.
And now her performances has been extended for every Friday and Saturday until April 25, 2009. Shows sell out at least one to two weeks in advance so do yourself a favor. The economy is tough, budgets are tight, but set aside twenty bones, commit to a specific date in the future and go see Dina Martina at Re-bar. I can assure you that you’ll be glad you did.
Dina Martina’s Cherished Chestnuts plays now through April 25th, 2009 Fridays and Saturdays only at Re-bar, 1114 Howell Street (at Boren Ave). No cellphones, photography or recording of any kind. Doors open at 6:30pm with the show starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 for all shows.
Visit www.dinamartina.com for more info.
Corrected: Grady West is born and raised in Seattle while Dina Martina was supposedly raised in Vegas.
