This show defines San Francisco in a way that the long-running North Beach parody never managed. Spoofing our home has always been easy. We are eccentric, and the whole world knows it. Joe Bisceglie’s SF Follies, now at Actors Theatre, is a high-energy send-up of the entire history of the City by the Bay. The well choreographed performers take us from the original Ohlone Indian inhabitants of this peninsula to an anthropomorphized Sutro Tower. Along the way they make fun of hippies and naked 49er miners, all with song and music.
In an hour and a half, a cast a 15 overwhelms the small stage on Bush with an exuberant parody of history against a gaudy City skyline, easily recognizable. The top-hat logo and giant caricature cut-out letters “SF” of the set identify the tone instantly. This show is about The City. In addition, the song lyrics and physical parodies accurately and deftly portray the various elements of our surroundings and “all genders in between” (I could not even list all the variations she mentioned.) The writer obviously knows this town intimately.
With surprising but relevant song choices and shameless mugging, they spoof easily recognizable themes. From a new interpretation of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” to a catchy “Kill, kill, kill went the trolley,” the performers enact the entire spirit of The City. And they do not neglect any era. Beyond the mission projects, Vallejo as the first state capitol, the new name for the city of Yerba Buena, the opening of Alcatraz in1934, they move to “the ridiculously cheerful Golden Gate Bridge number,” ‘50s beatniks in black with berets, and a hippy chick inviting us to, “Please welcome the Zodiac killer.”
This should be required viewing for any visitor to San Francisco. The many local references might escape even some dyed-in-the-wool locals, but they are sharp. When Midwest transplants Mike and Millie search for a SF home in $150K range, they are astounded to find a penthouse with ocean and bay views, gourmet kitchen, etc for one-fifty. Of course, it turns out to be $150 million. Further, they claim that California was granted statehood by Starbucks, North Beach was “a swampy morass now known as Chinatown,” Ingleside equals homicide, Twin Peaks is freezing, Noe Valley is the lair of dykes, the ragged poor of the Sunset complain that “No one’s seen the sun,” and “Everyone’s at home in your gayborhood.” Aside from that, Wendy Takuda appears at Fisherman’s Wharf to a version of “Old Cape Cod” and a goth and a sea lion participate.
The magic of this show is that the cast manages quick changes in the wings. This theater does not have wings. The set construction cleverly uses the small space to allow the backstage changes to flow effortlessly. The costumes changes, especially considering the period details, are impressive. The imitation of Major Nuisance is so spot-on that one might think the Mayor is right there on the stage. When your out-of-town relatives come to visit, drag them to this one. They will remember what SF is all about.
SF Follies Revue continues through April 5 at Actors Theatre of San Francisco, 855 Bush Street, San Francisco. Tickets phone (838) 838-3006 or go to http://www.actorstheatresf.org or http://www.sffollies.com.
