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Regional Reviews: San Francisco A Wild Production of Shit & Champagne Also see Richard's review of Late: A Cowboy Song and Patrick's review of Edith Piaf: Beneath Paris Skies
Shit & Champagne is billed as a "whitesploitation comedy" in which Drollinger plays Champagne White, described as a "steamy plate of vanilla pudding" out for revenge. After her financé Rod and her half-sister Brandee are brutally murdered, exotic dancer Champagne Horowitz Jones Dickerson White (you see she has been married and divorce three times) seeks revenge. She takes on the largest sex, drug, and back to school clothing ring in the country, Mal-Wart, going undercover to infiltrate the corrupt organization. She uses a battery of disguises, an overabundance of kung-fu moves, and a lot of one liners, dancing her way down the fast and frantic road to revenge. This show originally ran for five months at the now defunct bar Rebel to huge audiences. Unfortunately, that bar had limited seating. However, this new 6100 square space that is a combination of drag bar, cabaret theater, and dance club, will accommodate up to 200 persons. It's is not technically a drag show, as only a few cast members are in drag. The cast is spectacular, with the wonderful Matthew Martin playing opposite D'Arcy as the malicious villainess Dixie Stampede. Once again this very talented drag artist gives a pitch perfect performance with his Bette Davis voice. When these two are on stage bantering with one another, the house rocks with laughter. Adam Roy once again shows his fantastic comic talents playing dual roles, of Dick the detective and a hit man. He reminds me of a young Ray Bolger in this performance. James Arthur is terrific playing the other evil henchman and asthmatic scientist. Nancy French opens the show with the laziest pole dance I have ever seen, and then comes back time and time again to set the scene with placards and an "I don't give a crap about what the hell is happening" brashness. Steven LeMay, who plays Brandee, Champagne's adopted half-sister, along with a waitress and supervisor at Mal-Wart, gives a wonderful performance. D'Arcy Drollinger, the brains behind Shit & Champagne, playing Champagne is fabulous. He has managed to keep this production fresh with new jokes, content, and many ad libs that change every night. There is remarkable leg work, including high kicks, in the choreography of D'Arcy Drollinger and Laurie Bushman. As you enter the large theatre you see pole dancers in the four corners of the space—some are drags and some are women—dancing to stripper music. Shit & Champagne runs through February 14th, 2015, at the Oasis Night Club, 298 11st Street, (at Folsom Street) San Francisco. D'Arcy hopes that this will be "a hub for drag and all things fabulous that bring local and out-of-town performers together." Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets available at www.sfoasis.com.
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