Review by Rebecca M. Alvin
Madonna is perhaps the world’s best-known pop star, with a reach that spans across the world and across the generations. But for those of us who came of age in the 1980s, her significance is as more than just a top name in entertainment, but also as a shaper of American culture, a provocateur, and an ally to many disenfranchised people. I remember first hearing her in junior high school when my friend Tania’s older sister brought home the record Like a Virgin. Then she was in and out of my consciousness throughout my teenage years, and became a core part of my style of feminism as we entered the 1990s. I still remember reading and hearing cultural critic Camille Paglia’s effusive take on her, holding her up as an icon of women’s liberation. And I also remember arguing with my father and stepfather over her impact on how women expressed themselves in the wake of this cultural force.
I preface the review of Todd Alsup’s new show celebrating Madonna with that information to situate my response to it, personally. I found the show revived my interest in her because of Alsup’s adoration and also the audience’s collective engagement with the music. Whether they were of my generation or younger or older, male or female, straight or gay, they connected with Alsup’s rendition of songs like “Papa Don’t Preach” and “Like a Virgin,” which always seemed to speak so specifically to cisgender straight women. And together we absorbed Alsup’s enthusiasm and reflected it back to him in an endless loop of Madonna love.
Alsup’s stage persona is inviting and his banter in between medleys reveals his passion for all things Madonna—something most in the room could connect easily with. His voice is strong and clear, effectively channeling Madonna, while also retaining his own individual voice. His ardor was infectious and I found myself wanting to listen to more Madonna immediately after leaving the show because he reminded me of how powerful her message had been, even to the most casual fan. But also, Alsup takes us on a holiday from the pain, the anxiety, and the rage we are all feeling on a daily basis as the America of today barely resembles the one in which Madonna sang “Holiday” or “Vogue” or “Material Girl.” And there is power in that message, as well.
Todd Alsup Sings Madonna: An Immaculate Re-conception is performed at the Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial St., Provincetown, every Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., through September 20. For tickets ($35/$55) and information call 508.487.1430 or visit onlyatthecrown.com.
