Galactica in Irrelevant Acts of Entertainment

The Shop at Fort Fringe, 607 New York Ave. NW

Remaining Performances:

Tuesday, July 13 @ 10:00 p.m.
Friday, July 16 @ 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 17 @ 12:45 p.m.
Friday, July 23 @ 8:15 p.m.
Saturday, July 24 @ 4:00 p.m.

They say: “DEAD ON! IMPRESSIVE!” —DC Theatre Scene. “An uncanny, SUBLIME creation!” —Charles Busch. “This agent’s act is SPECIAL!” —Washington Blade. Spanning the range of standards to stand up, rock and roll to slapstick (sic), an evening with this Special Agent and her boys is one you won’t want to miss. And one that you will tell all your friends to go see!”

Sheffy’s take: Milli Vanilli was the first album I ever bought with my own money, earning them a special place in my heart.  After their lip synching fall from grace, my friends shamed me for continuing to listen. (Oddly, it wasn’t my questionable taste in music to which they objected.) I protested it was still music, regardless who sang it, and come on, they had been fooled, too.  Then there was Whitney Houston’s Superbowl-gate.  Well, Galactica and her Boys not only take the shame out of lip-synching — they elevate it to a thrilling art form.

Firstly, I’ll fess up to being among those at the Fringe preview debating whether they were lip-synching or in fact flawlessly covering “Superstitious” — all I knew was I had to see the full length show.  How does a drag queen and her three boy-toy back-up singers hold your attention for 85 minutes?  By mixing it up with a cabaret of rock, blues, country, gospel, and jazz, and even delivering a brilliant comedy sketch.  They didn’t miss a beat from Stevie Wonder to Stevie Nicks. (Apt lyric: “Sings a song sounds like she’s singing.”)  The crystal-clear acoustics (really, Fringe?!) fed into the illusion of live music.  Before long, I went from trying to catch any s’lip-ups to completely forgetting they weren’t belting it out.  And it really doesn’t matter.  They bring it on with their energy and verve.  The flamboyant choreography sizzled, and the sequined costumes were, well, FABULOUS!

The boys put the flame in Flamenco, but they don’t hold a candle to Galactica’s flair.  Her talents transcend the glitter of her lips: She embodied each vocalist down to every breath and bat of an eyelash.  Her timing was impeccable — when Ella Fitzgerald scats a tune, she gets a little leeway to rest and breathe, but Galactica relives every syllable by heart and doesn’t miss a breath.  (Okay, it may not have been Ella — a song list would have been appreciated).  But like Galactica’s hot pink hair, each irrelevant act was pure cotton candy.

See it if: You yen for an intimate Dolly Parton concert, but are looking for more affordable tickets. You won’t be disappointed.

Skip it if: You like your Galacticas preceded by Battlestars.