Back in 1968, the late, great Liberace, Milwaukee’s most outré son, performed his very particular version of Paul Simon’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song,” best known as “Feelin’ Groovy,” on “The Red Skelton Hour” along with a group of wholesome-looking youths billed as The Young Folk. The clip, which is both glorious and awful beyond words, has achieved a kind of cringe-fame in our TikTok world and for some reason it popped into my head halfway through “Grelley Duvall Best Actress” at the Chopin Theatre the other night.
That’s partly because it matches the camp aesthetic of “The Grelley Duvall Show” and partly because said show actually did make me feel kinda groovy. I think it might do the same for you.
Somehow I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing “The Grelley Duvall Show,” even though it has been knocking around town for a decade at various small venues, promising “Oscar-worthy acting” and “heart-pumping choreography,” not to mention “a slew of puppets.” I’m all in favor of all such attributes and, indeed, “Best Actress,” the show’s current edition, does deliver Oscar-worthy acting in the form of movie clips from the 1980s, enough self-aware choreography from Erin Kilmurray and Kasey Alfonso to get a little blood pumping through the arteries and even actual puppets, although I might take issue with the phrase “a slew of,” as if this were the closing number of “The Muppet Show.”
Not quite, but, as directed by Kasey Foster, this is nonetheless a very fun and delightfully camp night out. If you can’t wait for the tour of “Oh, Mary!” to get to Chicago (it’s coming next year), here is something to hold you off.
What transpires? Working with the writer Jesse Morgan Young, the performer Alex Grelle basically hosts a bunch of affectionate re-creations of, and narrative tributes to, whacked-out moments from the movies of the 1980s and 1990s — from such films as “Showgirls,” “The Omen,” “The French Lieutenant’s Woman,” “Popeye” and “Ordinary People.” Naturally, a particular scene from “Basic Instinct” makes an appearance. Aside from what Grelle is doing, all of which is very funny, you get your little troupe of dancers, a la The Young Folk, and a knockout live band, as directed by Aunt Kelly, performing intriguing versions of period covers off to the side. The music is related to the movies in various bizarre ways. Among many others, you’ll hear Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love,” Dionne Warwick’s “Always Something There To Remind Me,” Dead or Alive’s “Brand New Lover” (which I’d not heard for years) and even Annie Lennox’s “Why.” All in service of your amusement and the historical record.
Plus, puppets.
Like all such entertainments, this one is very much dependent on the charm of the hostess, and the very personable (and personal) Grelle has plenty to spare. One is gently coaxed, whoever one may be, through this fast-moving retro extravaganza, a fine night out and an escape from all the troubles of the world.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
Review: “Grelley Duvall Best Actress” (3 stars)
When: Through April 12
Where: Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St.
Running time: 2 hours
Tickets: $35-$41 at chopintheatre.com
