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| Freak Show: See what's behind the curtain |
by Shaun Knittel -
SGN Staff Writer
Freak Show
May 15-16
Seattle First Baptist Church
Diverse Harmony, the nation's first Gay/straight alliance affirming youth chorus flawlessly performed Freak Show inside the beautiful Seattle First Baptist Church last Friday and Saturday.
The basic premise of Freak Show is we all have public and private personas. We are all circus freaks on the inside. In keeping with that theme, the production was done showing the backstage, completely uncensored. The music featured a mix of songs from Broadway shows and radio, as well as original compositions by youth performers Kat Miller and Kince de Vera.
The show began with the cast singing solemnly from behind backlit white sheets - like ghosts in the night or shadows on the wall, they asked you softly to "come look at the freaks." The low rise turns into a scream as they tear away the white sheets and you see the Freak Show Boss, Bearded Lady, Lizard Girl, Geek, Strong Man, Two-Headed Twin, Stagehand, Bride of Snakes, Gypsy, and Carnie standing in front of LGBTS rainbow colored backdrops. The cast now demands of you to once again "look at the freaks!" It was very powerful, and somehow, before you know it, Diverse Harmony has you transfixed for the next hour and a half.
Accompanist Jeremiah Oliver, with the exception of "Dice and Pieces" which Kince de Vera, who composed the song, played on guitar, played all songs.
The show had funny moments like "Two Ladies" (from Cabaret), presented as a song about Freak Show Boss, Kince de Vera (the production's stand-out performer), sleeping with his wife - the Bearded Lady, played by the multi-talented Kat Miller, and the Chloe Zager's Snake Bride. Another comical number was when Diverse Harmony performed pop sensation Scissor Sisters' "Filthy/Gorgeous" while de Vera danced around with a rubber chicken. Not your typical run-of-the-mill choir number, huh?
The girls of Diverse Harmony sang a sonnet to womanhood, performing the feminist anthem "I am Woman."
There were a few campy numbers that fit the bill nicely. "Gaston" from Disney's Beauty and the Beast centered on Strong Man, played by Jordan Petersen. The cast danced and sang around Petersen proclaiming how magnificent and manly he is - Petersen fit the part wonderfully. Another number that had camp appeal was "I Enjoy Being a Girl" (from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song), performed by half-man-half-woman character Christopher Worley - who made the perfect half-drag queen.
The two best songs and most heartfelt performances came whenever a Kat Miller song was presented. Miller is a skilled lyrics writer - her performance of a song she composed, "Wolves in the World" drew long applause from the audience who was in awe of her. "Another Day," sung by the youngest member of Diverse Harmony, Meagan James, left you with goosebumps. Both songs seemed to express the fears, anger, and sadness that come with growing up LGBT in a sometimes non-accepting society.
The last two numbers drove the point of tolerance home. Petersen reemerged with a suitcase in hand singing "Wicked Little Town" from Hedwig and the Angry Inch to Two-Headed Twin Christopher Worley. It was a touching performance as a jilted lover tried to make amends for damage done. Then, all at once, all of the "freaks" are back onstage demanding you to look at them once more. Then, in a stroke of performance genius, Kince de Vera holds a cracked hand mirror up to the audience, singing, yelling, shouting, "look at the freaks!"
"Freak Show has a good, clear message about stereotypes and breaking them down," Worley told SGN after the Saturday-night performance. "I encourage anyone 13-22 years old who might want to join to show up to a rehearsal and see what you think of it. There's just no way to describe it, we are like a family - it's a sibling relationship. Plus, it's a great way to have fun with people who have similar interests."
Meagan James agreed. "Honestly, it's amazing and exhilarating to be a part of Diverse Harmony. When I walk into rehearsal, nothing seems to matter, whatever is bothering me is gone. Being a part of Diverse Harmony really helps you be your own person."
The talent that lies within Diverse Harmony is astounding. At the end of the show the group's artistic director, Brent McGee, pointed out that almost everything having to do with the production is done by the youth - from designing the program, costumes, to writing some of the music. It was all done very well and quite honestly better than most community theater anywhere in the country.
"I am so proud of them," McGee told SGN. "The youth of Diverse Harmony are amazing, this was our best performance to date."
Diverse Harmony's Freak Show should be in every school in America. The message of tolerance is that bold, that strong, that needed.
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