New SoMa performance venue hosts D’Arcy Drollinger’s rollicking drag ’70s exploitation flick send-up.
By Marke B.
PARTY RADAR Welp, she did it. While no one ever truly doubted the supreme iron will of SF’s broad-wigged, broad-shouldered drag Colossus Heklina — especially not me, I’ll keep my gonads, thank you — the Trannyshack drag doyenne really hit a home run with her very own new club venue, Oasis SF.
It’s really a real thing! And it’s lovely, with a nice bar-lounge Fez Room in the front that’s open for happy hours and regular cocktail-time canoodling (you might spot big mama Heklina slanging dranks) — and a big space beyond the curtains for performances (who knew we had such a thirst for colorful queer to-dos?) and dance parties, which are my favorite kind of party.
Heklina’s iconic Trannyshack drag boner-anza has been rebranded as Mother, and will take over Saturdays starting Sat/17.
But the big news right now is the five-week run of lithesome drag practitioner and fellow Oasis owner D’Arcy Drollinger’s hysterical “Shit & Champagne” (through Feb. 14), her own production in which she plays Charlie’s-Angel-on-acid-like heroine Champagne White.
Throw a rollicking, satirical, feathered wig (or afro) on every ’70s exploitation flick cliche, wrap it in a rainbow-colored Zig Zag full of raunch and poop jokes, light it up with some stellar performances and groan-inducing jokes, and smoke that shit. You’ll be as high as the star-studded crowd was last Saturday night, when I attended.
It was pure theatrical silliness, punctuated with transcendent moments of physical comedy and few extremely good quips. Matthew Martin as Champagne’s ice-hearted nemesis brought down the house with one raised eyebrow, while Stephen LeMay heroically etched an affecting portrait as all of Three’s Company squished into a pair of purple leg warmers. Really, the whole karate-kickin’ cast was spot-on. (And Nancy French is the ultimate stripper tramp.)
I won’t tire your pretty little head with all the twisty plot machinations, so here’s a brief rundown of Champagne White nee Horowitz’s rapid-fire costume changes: professional dancer, stripper, Mexican restaurant hostess, lounge singer, stripper, lab assistant, undercover detective, stripper, professional dancer. Maybe not necessarily in that order — and I am really surprised there was not a scene set in outer space. However! You will indeed get an eyeful of Champagne.
And poop jokes, yes. There are a lot of them — the plot hinges on the quaintly ’90s practice of inserting crystal meth up your rear to get high. It’s a rocky road for booty bumpers, and this show doesn’t shy away from the risks. Don’t do any meth enemas, kids.
Anyway, long may Oasis reign. I love our showy city and its eternal theater queens.
PS: Tonight (Thu/15) is D’Arcy’s birthday, and the show’s after party will be wild.
SHIT & CHAMPAGNE
Thu-Sat, 6:30pm doors, show 7:30pm
$20-$25
Show runs through Feb 14
Oasis
298 11th St., SF
www.sfoasis.com
