ONSTAGE Recognized as an instant camp classic — as well as a commercial disaster and artistic WTF — upon its initial 1995 release, Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls has been an annual local midnight-movie event for drag queen of darkness Peaches Christ nearly as long. (Peaches’ annual “Night of 1,000 Showgirls” event was notorious for drag queen lap dances and lots of buttered popcorn naughtiness.)
This year, however, she’s forgoing the usual film-and-stage spectacular combo for the West Coast premiere of the 2013 off-off-Broadway musical hit — “Showgirls: The Musical” (through Sat/27) — by composer-writer duo Bob and Tobly McSmith.
Peaches aka Joshua Grannell directs, co-producers and co-stars in this dead-on spoof of a movie that seemingly couldn’t be made any more ridiculous than it already is. April Kidwell reprises her awe-inspiring performance as Nomi Malone, the mysterious but extremely high-strung young drifter who hits Vegas with a vengeance, her DIY “incredible” dance skills hastening a transition from stripclub pole-dancing to the a legit revue’s chorus line.
Among those she claws over in her ascent to glory are dance diva Cristal Connors (a towering Peaches in Gina Gershon’s role) and casino honcho Kyle MacLachlan (Tim Wagner as… well, you know). With original song interludes like “Don’t Lick That Pole, Girl,” “You’re A Whore, Darlin,” and the inevitable “Fucking Underwater!,” The Musical doesn’t miss a trick in pumping up further the already uncomfortably larger-than-life most memorable aspects of its inspirational source.
Production values are pointedly tacky, energy alarmingly high; the only real debit here is somewhat dicey sound that buries some of the McSmiths’ clever lyrics. But most of what’s here comes through loud and hilariously clear, from Kidwell’s high-kicking expressions of cosmic angst to Bobby “Barnaby” Bryce as a minor film character who here gets an unforgettable few minutes’ spotlight as the most bitchily frustrated gay male dance captain ever.
If you’ve ever seen, loved and/or been horrified by Showgirls proper, this live sendup provides a priceless last word on the matter.
“SHOWGIRLS: THE MUSICAL”
Wed-Sat 8 pm through Aug. 27, $32-45
Victoria Theater, SF
www.peacheschrist.com
