Review by Steve Desroches
In a world where its increasingly hard to tell the difference between what is authentic and what is fake one thing is for certain; Miss Richfield 1981 is the real deal. In a world that seems upside down it makes all the sense in the world that the beloved Miss R can soothe with the musical saw and explain all that we really need to know by spelling out “love” with her legs in the air. In her all-new show Phony Baloney, Miss Richfield takes on the pitfalls of artificial intelligence, misinformation, and herd mentality with laughter, compassionate yet biting humor, and most of all, her incredible ability to unite an audience within minutes of hitting the stage.
Miss Richfield has been a staple of the summer season for over 20 years now, becoming a Provincetown icon as well as a national drag star, all through her in-person live stage shows and not any reality shows that augment reality to fit a desired reality that gets ratings. It is clear that an evening with Miss Richfield has become a must for visitors and townies alike as each show often feels like a reunion. Not only does she remember names and details of those in attendance, but audience members know each other from years of seeing the hilarious drag ambassador of Minnesota. While Phony Baloney has a narrative, a Miss Richfield show is like an auto race ride at an amusement park where the direction is set, yet she steers to the left or the right to land an off the cuff joke. Above all else, Miss Richfield is a gifted improv comedian, and she delivers jokes with a silver tongue and a heart of gold.
There is a timeliness to Phony Baloney that is crisp and spot on, but there is no ham-fisted sermon or political point that makes the oxygen leave the room. Rather it’s a playful and at times poignant examination of the foibles of modern life and what truly connects humanity. And while the show takes on one of the biggest issues of the day, it manages to be a wonderful escape from our troubled times. Testament to how adept Miss Richfield is at putting a crowd at ease is evident when the house lights go up and she walks through the room at the Pilgrim House. No one tenses up or exhibits fear that they’ll be picked on. Quite the opposite. There’s a palpable energy that folks hope Miss Richfield will pick them for a back-handed compliment or to even be brought up on stage, as was the case on a Thursday evening when a young straight man on vacation with his gay college friend and a woman celebrating her 70th birthday danced with abandon as part of a show that creates very real joy.
Miss Richfield 1981 presents Phony Baloney at Pilgrim House, 336 Commercial St.,Provincetown, through September 14 at 9 p.m. For tickets ($35/$45/$55) and specific show dates visit the box office or go online to pilgrimhouseptown.com. For more information call 508.487.6424.
