Photo: PamTown Photography
Review by James Judd
In The Comparable Dina Martina, the titular woman is pulling off an astonishing feat. She makes an audience love her despite all the things she does that are horrible. There isn’t another actor working today that can do what Dina does, even if what she does is hard to wrap your mind around.
The Comparable Dina Martina is Dina Martina reinvigorated. She’s activated. Dina enters looking like Elizabeth Taylor at 5 a.m. and teasing us with a sheath over those legendary gams, singing “Alive,” from the musical Applause.
The number is a life-affirming anthem, and it’s in keeping with a Dina that has seemed more energetic and happier over the past couple of seasons. Like the top-of-the-line pro that she is, the front of chaos she presents hides a steely mind that is in total control of the room and is so relaxed that she will never let you see it.
It’s no easy thing to present a potentially unlikeable character in a way that makes us absolutely love her. The hardcore Dina fans were chomping at the bit for it to begin. People pressed themselves into the front rows to get closer to her. Toward the end the older people behind me, who were first timers, were standing and dancing. A sense of joy permeated the air.
Americans love a comic to be mean to them (think Don Rickles), but Dina is always kind, which means the character will have to find another way to make the crowd love her. Martina’s presenter must have razor sharp focus to be able to sustain this character and continue to find new ways to perform for as Dina for 20 summers in Provincetown. In Olympic parlance, she has high starting values.
You can see her show many ways. You can laugh your ass off at the antics. The physical comedy is on par with Bill Irwin and Nathan Lane. You can come as an intellectual comedy lover and laugh until your face hurts from smiling at the subtext. You can come see it as an acting connoisseur and find yourself in rapturous thrall to her.
The presenter of Dina Martina is a performer that does not like to talk about the mechanics of his Dina Martina persona. Instead, he prefers that the audience know nothing of the behind-the-curtain maneuvers and appreciate Dina for exactly how we experience her in front of us.
It’s also notable that Dina’s presenter has a level comedic skill that sometimes results in displays of brilliance. A trip through the audience during a musical number has a jaw-dropping twist. If you see a lot of comedy and a lot of drag, it’s great to have a moment when you can’t laugh because you’re so in awe.
The Comparable Dina Martina is performed at the Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial St., Provincetown, Wednesdays – Saturdays, 7 p.m. through September 1, with additional shows September 6, 7, & 13. For tickets and more information call 508.487.1430 or visit onlyatthecrown.com.
