Heartwarming story of an Elvis impersonator dragged into a new career

Prince Edward Community Theatre is staging the play The Legend of Georgia McBride by Matthew López at Mount Tabor Playhouse in Milford with six performances over the next two weeks. Director Cheryl Singer came across this play two years ago and knew that she had to stage it. “I fell in love with it right away. It is something a little different, with comedy, music and drag queens. I could see all of the colours and the cast, and I could see the story,” she said. Before going ahead, she needed to ensure that she could find actors willing to perform in drag. “We have three men that get into drag, and that’s not the type of role that everyone wants to do, so I thought I’s better make sure we had enough people who were interested. I approached Pat Larkin and he read the script and he said ‘I’m in!’ Andy [Francis] also read the script and they identified with one of the characters and they said they’d love to be in the production in the role of Rexy. That was enough to sell me, and I brought the play to the theatre board, and here we are two years later,” said Ms. Singer.

The play follows the life of a young Elvis impersonator, Casey, played by Tomas Crossley, after he’s fired from his gig at a seedy club in the Florida Panhandle. He’s offered work as a bartender in the same club after it replaces his act with a drag show. Chronically broke and behind on the rent, and with his wife Jo, played by Tess Singer, newly pregnant, he sees no other option but to take the job. There’s a significant turn of events when one of the drag queens, Rexy, played by Andy Francis, has an unfortunate accident. Drag queen Miss Tracy Mills, played with campy enthusiasm by Pat Larkin, dragoons Casey onstage as the initially inept Miss Georgia McBride who is thrust into the spotlight to perform an Edith Piaf number. In a skillfully executed scene, Casey is transformed from a reluctant queen to a confident impersonator in the space of a couple of minutes. His life and fortunes change, but he is unable to tell Jo what is really going on.

Andy Francis was eager to take on the role of Rexy, who they said plays a keystone role. “I’ve always wanted to perform in drag, to explore that part, and I’m enjoying the experience. Rexy comes off as a little harsh in some ways, but there’s a reason for that—she’s lived a hard life and she’s still working to push herself forward,” they said. In addition to playing the vodka-fuelled Roxy, Mx. Francis also plays Jason, a beer-swilling good ole boy who is also Casey’s landlord. “He’s hyper-masculine and the opposite to Rexy, but there’s an unexpected depth to his character,” said Mx. Francis. They have been involved in community theatre for a number of years, appearing in Two in the Aisle, Three in the Van and providing tech support for Red Velvet Cake Wars and Steel Magnolias. “Community theatre is a way to keep myself occupied, but there’s also the community part of it. It’s nice to see people in theatre and in storytelling generally. The rehearsals are really fun, and it’s great to explore the characters, especially after we started doing the dress rehearsals,” they said.

Tess Singer plays to role of Jo, and says that her role in the play is one of being a steady presence, encapsulating the “heart” of the show, as a balance to the comedy. She said that it took her some time to figure out her character. “I analyzed Casey’s character and looked at the interaction between Jo and Casey and brought out the emotion behind that,” she said. “This play is a little more progressive and sends a pretty clear message. It has a lot of comedic value and it’s representative of a very diverse group of people. I hope that when the audience sees it they will feel that they are touched by it.”

Director Cheryl Singer said that her task in directing the play was to make sure that everyone feels invested in the project. “I want people to understand who their characters are and how they relate to other characters in the show. If you have a part in the play, you are a pivotal part of the entire story,” she said. She looks back upon her experience as an actor to inform her role as director. “I found that I always needed advice from the director on what I should be doing, because they can see the whole picture. I write notes about everything and I’m helped by stage manager Kim Kennedy and assistant stage manager Sherri Girvan. I had two years to dive into this play, and find the depth in it. It’s not just about drag. Drag plays a pivotal role in the overall theme of it, which is about finding your authentic self,” she said. “If you love music, if you love a good love story, if you love Elvis Presley, if you love great music, if you want to come to a show and be able to get out of your seat and dance, then come to see this play. Come and feel joy, absolute unadulterated joy. We have it all.” The play will be performed on June 14, 18, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances on June 15 and June 22 at 2 p.m. For more information and tickets, please visit pecommtheatre.ca

Frome The Wellington Times

This weekend and next, Prince Edward Community Theatre is back at Mount Tabor with Matthew Lopez’s drag queen comedy The Legend of Georgia McBride.

Casey is a small town Elvis impersonator who loses his job at the local bar. He can draw no more than seven customers.

He is replaced by a rag-tag drag show, whose performers, Tracy and Rexy, need a little something extra.

Already comfortable wearing wigs and sequined jump-suits, Casey, much to his own surprise, transforms into the fantastic, lip-syncing drag queen Georgia McBride.

Burlesque shenanigans ensue.

Director Cheryl Singer notes the real, laughing comedy of the play sells itself. “Even the preparation of the costumes had its moments,” she noted. “We have a limited budget! Try finding fabulous costumes that will fit…large men — you know, a lovely woman’s evening gown. And shoes! A size 14 women’s high heeled shoe! Try finding that.

“Let’s put it this way. We all love a challenge, so it was fun to search, because when you did find them, it was, like, ‘oh yes!’

“The whole show is just pure joy. I just want people to sit there and just be entertained and feel the joy that comes out of this — the music, the costumes, the lighting, the characters, the friendships that have bonded.”

Each of the production’s contributors looks beyond the fun to the play’s themes, of identity and self-realization.

“We all want to be appreciated,” notes Ms. Singer, “no matter who we are, no matter what it is, whether we’re in drag or whether we are an Elvis impersonator, or whether we’re working at Tim Hortons in a uniform.”

Pat Larkin as Tracy Mills (Photo: Chris Fanning)

The theatre draws attention to the role-playing of life itself. “I’ll do my makeup and my hair, because that’s who I am when I go out into the world. This is what I like to present to the world.”

Ms. Singer quotes the greatest drag queen of them all, RuPaul: “drag does not disguise your personality; drag reveals your personality.” To be human is to play roles.

Pat Larkin, who plays Tracy Mills, notes, “it’s an inclusive thing, and in my conversations with drag queens, that’s one of the greatest lessons that come across. They say, drag is for everybody.”

The actors spoke to personal transformations as a result of their roles. Tomas Crossley, who plays Casey, said he faced his insecurities through the great variety of things his role requires him to do — play guitar, sing, dance, undress — wearing women’s clothing was the least of it.

“I’m a chef by trade, so cooking in front of people is putting on a performance. But this is a whole other thing! The process has been liberating.”

Acting is also ethically engaging. “I think one of the grand things that happens with acting is you hit the point of really beginning to have a lot of empathy for the human condition,” says Mr. Larkin.

“Because as you play each new character, if you’re really investing yourself in it, you’re really learning a new perspective.”

From the Picton Gazette

That’s just one of the snappy lines in Prince Edward Community Theatre’s production of Steel Magnolias, a lively and warm production of the play by Robert Harling.

A stage-theatre favourite, Steel Magnolias was made into film with Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Shirley MacLean in 1989. It features the friendships of six “southern belles” — delicate on the outside, but strong enough on the inside to weather any challenge. Resilient women  are steel magnolias. The play, which is funny and lively and a bit sad, foregrounds family relationships and the complexities of life.

“The play has a lot to do with life cycles, the change of the seasons, opportunities for opening and closing for different characters, whether that be romantic or friendships, everything is changing scene by scene,” notes first-time director Bailey Mulridge, a member of PECT since 2015. “Nothing is the same moment by moment.”

The play is a great showcase for local talent. The production features PECT regulars Lori Farrington as Clairee, Cheryl Singer as Truvy Jones, Lynne Donovan as M’Lynn, and Jen Sills as Ouiser. Newcomers Kat Burns and Emma Woodman play Annelle and Shelby, respectively.

The story concerns Shelby’s upcoming wedding and her life-threatening Type 1 diabetes, but focuses most on the underlying friendships of all six characters. How they cope with conflict and loss takes center stage. Humour is a way of contending with the sadness and the seriousness of underlying situations.

“Everyone can find something in each one of the characters,” Ms. Mulridge notes.

Evening shows at 7:30 on Wednesday 9 April, Friday 11 April and Saturday 12 April. Sunday matinees are sold out.

All shows at Mt. Tabor Playhouse, 2179 County Road 17, Milford. Tickets are available at the PECT website.

From the Picton Gazette