(Hey, y’all, Michael Strangeways here. Our Host at Seattle Gay Scene, the divine Bill W. has kindly asked if I would like to contribute some posts on random artsy goings on in the Emerald City and since the poor man can’t possibly go to, or report on every single Queer event in the Tri-State area, I couldn’t refuse him…also, it’ll help get me out of the house, off my butt and away from non-stop watching of “Biggest Loser”, “Lost”, and the cooking shows on the Create Channel…now on to more important things…)
Everyones Favorite off-off-off-off Broadway Diva/Chanteuse/Enchantress and Cabaret Queen, the one and only Dina Martina is coming back to Re-bar for her annual spring fling starting on March 5th and running through April 17th. (And that closing date is fixed in stone because Dina’s off to the UK for a weekend of shows in London before heading back to Provincetown for her annual summer performances at The Crown & Anchor…) Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and there’s the Bloody Mary/Mimosa Matinees on Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $20 in advance, (buy them here), or $25 at the door…and WORTH EVERY FREAKING PENNY!
Dina’s devoted cadre of fans are well aware of her charms and I’m guessing millions of Seattle Gay Scene readers are devout members of The Church of Dina, but for those of you who’ve resisted her ample hairy-backed and camel-toed charms for the last dozen years or so, I urge you to get on the damn bus…if you’re an uptight Dragophobe immune to the charms of traditional pageant-style, old school, gay bar drag comprised of bitchy queens lip-syncing to Madonna, Mariah and Beyonce while trolling for tips/donations (and shame on you for being a Dragophobe; those Queens were fighting for our rights at Stonewall when your Daddy was still in diapers), then you need to be informed that Dina is a Performance Artist and not a Drag Queen and she creates a unique character like Chaplin’s “Little Tramp”, Paul Reuben’s “Pee-Wee Herman” or Barry Humphries “Dame Edna”…and like all three of these geniuses, Dina’s creator Grady West is a master comedian equipped with expert timing, finely honed improvisational skills, a command of the stage AND his audience, and an unerring ability to hit the funny ball out of the comedy park every time he steps onstage. (I advise everyone going to a Dina show to take an aspirin before leaving the house; I always end up laughing so hard at the show, I end up with a headache…which also might be caused by the numerous “Cuba Libres” I drink…) So, Dragophobes, you have no excuse to not go see the Legend.
Oh, and if you’re one of those people afraid of intimate, interactive theater, (yes, Dina does bits with members of her audience), then have the common sense to NOT sit in the front row or in an aisle seat and you’ll have a perfectly lovely time laughing at OTHER people being put in the hot seat…which is never that hot because Dina is essentially a kind creature and she almost always ASKS if you want to “play” with her. So you shy people have no reason to not go…as for the rest of us, we’ve already ordered our tickets.
For more info on the show or Dina in general, go to her website and/or sign up to receive updates on the latest Dinactivities. Warning: the home page of her website can induce nausea and a sense of vertigo…those eyes WILL follow you around the room…
P.S. I have it on good authority that this is an ALL-NEW show with NEW VIDEO segments…no re-runs or Greatest Hits shows like some Spring shows…and Dina always promises that her “curtains will match the drapes!”
– Michael Strangeways
Photo Credit: David Belisle
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
