What’s the latest on Philadelphia’s theater scene this month? Metro has the scoop.
‘Mabeline: The Greenaissance Tour’
It’s a very naughty ‘n’ nice holiday season starting with the naughty, haughty opera-house-music-drag-concert extravaganza that is Cookie Diorio’s ‘Mabeline: The Greenaissance Tour‘. Running at Voyeur Nightclub now through Dec. 21, ‘Mabeline’ stars its author, classically trained vocalist and Philly drag queen Cookie Diorio as the opera’s titular heroine — “full name Mabeline Grinchester Diorio” says its star — just recently divorced from “my mean ex-husband and mining magnate Louis Grinchester III, you know, The Grinch.”
The Bearded Ladies Cabaret and Opera Philadelphia’s new CEO Anthony Roth Costanzo have joined in the fun as the holiday extravaganza’s presenters.
“I’ve had the story of Mabeline in my head forever,” says Diorio. “And it took a Christmas miracle to make it happen in such a grand fashion.”
As the torrid tale goes, Diorio’s rapping, singing Mabeline — from her tiny mountain town outside of Whoville — released a tell-all, tea-spilling single ‘Christmas Tree’ about her Grinch-y ex-husband. Greater success came with her seasonal self-titled debut album and the publication of her memoirs, Untold Stories of the Fabulous X-Mrs. Grinch.
“The story is all told in good, musical fun, but that doesn’t make my Mabeline any less angry,” says Diorio.
‘Mabeline: The Greenaissance Tour’ co-stars Jess Conda as DJ Cindy Lou Who, and Lili St. Queer as Horton, and each night is highlighted by different surprise guests from Whoville, including Philly legends Shannon Turner (Dec. 12); Wet Betty (Dec. 13); Martha Graham Cracker (Dec. 14); Anthony Roth Costanzo (Dec. 19); Metropolitan Opera performer Davóne Tines (Dec. 20); and Biddy Bee (Dec. 21).
‘Mabeline: The Greenaissance Tour’ tickets are available online at beardedladiescabaret.com
‘Peter Pan’
Every child and parent knows the story of author J.M. Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’ — but the timeless tale is given new life with playwright Douglas Irvine and director Whit MacLaughlin’s vision of the flying fairytale, on stage now through Jan. 19 at The Arden Children’s Theatre.
Starring J. Hernandez (Hook), Jo Vito Ramirez (Peter Pan) and a handful of Philadelphia actors, young and old, the Arden Theatre’s artistic producing director Terrence J. Nolen states that creating a new, vividly imaginary and smart Peter Pan is par for its course.
“When the Arden started its Children’s Theatre, we believed that it should always represent the very best of what we could do; that it should be led by our passions in collaboration with the best artists possible and utilize the same, great resources as we would our work for adults…. We want kids to be excited for theater in the future and we want kids to be excited for theater now – that they have things that concern them, and things that excite them, be interesting, imaginative stories told in an engaging, innovative way.”
That pretty much describes what the Arden has going with Scottish playwright Douglas Irvine’s new adaptation of ‘Peter Pan’, and what Fringe Festival favorite Whit MacLaughlin has brought to the epic tale of wild childlike wonder.
“It’s all about imagination and creativity… and Irvine is the artistic producer of a group, Visible Fictions, who are into radically retelling traditional tales,” says Nolen. “Its actors use great physicality and each play multiple roles. And Irvine loves using puppetry, dance, and video, gets to the essence of what ‘Peter Pan’ is all about, and truly embraces theatricality at all levels. If you know and love ‘Peter Pan’, this is going to be different in many ways while telling the original story.”
For tickets to ‘Peter Pan’ at the Arden Children’s Theatre, visit ardentheatre.org
