The Legend of Georgia McBride

Dito van Reigerberg,  Matteo
 Schammell , Mikéah Ernest Jennings

The Arden Theatre Company, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, is presenting Matthew Lopez’s The Legend of Georgia McBride on its Arcadia Stage through November 27, 2016. With the inimitable Dito van Reigersberg playing Miss Tracy Mills drag queen par excel lance, and Mikéah Ernest Jennings playing Rexy, a somewhat drunken drag queen, what could entice Casey (Matteo Scammer) to forego his beloved Elvis act and go on stage in drag?... certainly not his pregnant wife Jo (Jessica Johnson) but perhaps a paycheck from the club owner Eddie (Damien J. Wallace). This is a hilarious and engaging show. When Casey first puts on a wig and dress and has to lip sync an Edith Piaf song he doesn’t know, Tracy Mills helps out in wings with a bit of advice: “Just say watermelon mother f…. and no one will know the difference.  When you come to the chorus, sing, padum, padum, padum…” Success breeds success as Casey develops his own persona of Georgia McBride, refashioning his dazzling Elvis jumpsuit and adding glitzy heels and a countrified air. The jazzy costume changes are completed almost as quickly and as frequently as the detailed set changes. Tracy Mills makes a flamboyant entrance from behind the top tier of seats and shimmies her way onto the stage, lip syncing and flirting with the audience on her way. The entire ensemble cast is fabulous. The set and design by Jorge Cousineau, the costume design by Olivera Gajic, the lighting design by Maria Shaplin, and the choreography by Melanie Cotton fuse to make this production legendary. It is an outstanding night of pure fun. For more information or tickets, call 215-922-1122; visit online at www.ardentheatre.org, or walk-up at the box office, 40 N. 2^nd Street.