Review by Steve Desroches
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a fabulous drag queen! It’s Super-Ma’am! Now in her third full-summer season, Sutton Lee Seymour has secured a spot as a headliner in Provincetown’s esteemed and crowded drag performance scene. A master of camp, Sutton Lee Seymour presents a rapid-fire drag cabaret with so much energy and gusto that she could indeed leap tall buildings in a single bound. In Super-Ma’am, the universe of Superman gets a drag makeover in which it’s up to drag to save the world. And considering the state of the world and the absurdity of modern life, maybe Super-Ma’am is just the super hero we need.
While performed in one hour, Sutton Lee Seymour is such an indefatigable dynamo that the show moves faster than a speeding bullet. It is a densely packed musical comedy performance that brings drag into the realm of theater, cabaret, and spectacle. At the same time, Super-Ma’am is inviting, even cozy at moments, as Seymour consistently maintains a relationship with the audience while always being in control, which is comforting. Super-Ma’am will always save the day no matter what.
The entire show is a clever interpretation of the super hero, but not such a deep dive that those who aren’t terribly familiar or a fanatic fan of the world of comic books and Marvel movies still get it. Super-Ma’am, is in short, really, really fun. But as much as Super-Ma’am is a delightful respite from the real world, even in this imaged reality there is a peppering of social and political commentary. Several well-placed topical jokes, as well as an uplifting and inspiring monologue, give Super-Ma’am an added “Pow” and “Kablam” relevance while never losing its entertainment value.
Provincetown often finds itself in a tricky spot as visitors can be split as to what they want. Some prefer the town to be their “happy place” while others desperately crave a response from the town to the current state of affairs, especially if they hail from somewhere where they feel like an outsider, making Provincetown a welcoming haven from which they find empowerment to face the world. Super-Ma’am provides both; Seymour wrote a show that speaks of the times without drowning in despair, morbidity, or endless hand-wringing. Optimism is Super-Ma’am’s super power, and so, too, does the potential for everyone to be their own super hero with the only kryptonite being a sense of pessimism that all is lost. Super-Ma’am shows that everyone can indeed fly.
Sutton Lee Seymour performs in Super Ma’am at the Art House, 214 Commercial St., now through September 12. For specific show times, dates, and tickets ($35/$45) visit thearthouseptown.com. For more information call 508.413.7798.
