By Michael Block

First we waited for Godot. Then it was Guffman. Now, we're waiting for Judy Garland. Making her Greenroom 42 debut, Gloria Swansong brings a little bit of Gloria and a little bit of Judy to the stage in Waiting for Garland. A two-act epic drag dramedy, Waiting for Garland introduces the audience to why Gloria and Judy are a dynamic duo.

photo by Michael Block

Gloria Swansong is brought to the stage to announce that her partner for the night, the one and only Judy Garland has not arrived yet. So to kill time, Gloria has to tell some outlandish stories of her past while entertaining the crowd with some of her signature numbers. Between "Let's Have a Kiki" and "Cell Block Tango," Gloria gave us a uniquely remarkable narrative. Who knew that Gloria was a part of an old-timey trio! As she stalls and stalls, Gloria discovers Judy may actually be deceased, and finally leans into dark magic to summon Judy because that's why we came! After the séance worked, Judy takes over Gloria's body to perform some of her iconic numbers. Waiting for Garland is a surrealistic drag spectacular. While the script does get a little long-winded, the meat of the show is learning how Judy came into Gloria's life. In a cabaret setting, less is always more. Shrinking the amount improvised banter and perhaps eliminating a number or two in each act may allow the show to be a brisk ninety-minute show. Waiting for Garland is also a new and intimate look into the stage persona of Gloria Swansong. Is she really an old broad from the Vaudevillian circuit? Did she really get offered a role in Chicago? Probably not, but having a perspective is fresh for a cabaret. Whether or not you know her or not, Waiting for Garland is your opportunity to learn about the artist. And if you didn't know, she's an exceptional designer and seamstress. To remind the audience of this, Gloria keeps a garment rack of costumes that she goes in and out of throughout the show. To help with the pacing, perhaps including a hired hand in the form of a hunky lad could be in order. The costume showcase is a large part of what makes Gloria, so finding a way to incorporate it in a smoother fashion is a necessity.
The skeleton of an exceptional cabaret is all there. Now it's finessing the mechanics of the piece that will take it to the next level. Gloria Swansong has given audiences her Judy shows, now's her chance to give a reason why.

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By Michael Block 

They’re Two Tuckers and they’re back at The Duplex for another night of some original music and some cross dressing. The wild and crazy stage duo of Golden Delicious and Tucker bring their original flair for an evening you’ve likely never experienced before. Two Tuckers is more variety show than cabaret with a whole lot of gay.
He’s a little bit singer-songwriter, she’s a little bit glamazon, but together they are Two Tuckers. In their third iteration of their titular show at The Duplex, they bring the audience along on a tour of their favorite hits. From their original titular theme to “Golden’s Golden Rules” to original songs and mixes, if you’re a fan, you’re in luck. Right off the bat, this duo has a chemistry that surrounds the space with an entertaining energy. Scripted or not, their quick wit and ability to riff off of one another is endearing. And those transitions? They may be hard, but to call them out allows the comedy to remain present. Since the show doesn’t necessarily have a story through line, Two Tuckers is more like a celebration of two talents, both individually and as a unit. Tucker is a pop superstar in the making. His songwriting prowess is uncanny. And that voice? It’s like butter, as Golden’s favorite diva would say. While the duo’s songs usually contain more of a comedic, earworm worthy aesthetic, his solo numbers have top 40 radio written all over them. Golden is a drag queen who knows the importance of a tight lip sync. It’s one thing to know how to make a mix and be funny on stage. It’s another selling it fully. She looks stunning, and yet there’s an awkward charm to her presence. She knows how beautiful she is, as her mix says, but her persona is learning just what it means to be a 7-foot-tall beauty queen.

photo by Michael Block

Give or take, each iteration of Two Tuckers features a similar set list with a rotating number or two. But each show has a variety of performers as the guests. In the February edition, Tucker and Golden welcomed Brooklyn’s hottest comedian Sam Taggart and Mean Girls’ Nikhil Saboo. Sam and the Two Tuckers sang an original comedy number called “Socilate” where Sam went through his fabulous life despite not knowing who Johnny Depp was. When Tucker and Golden brought Nikhil to the stage, a brand-new aura was introduced. Rather than an original number, Nikhil and the duo performed an incredible interpretation of “Who Let the Dogs Out.” And the audience lived. Why? Because this was something familiar. Moving forward, finding ways to incorporate more of these covers may give the show an extra spark.
Two Tuckers is pure fun. If you missed the show before, lucky for you, they’re back in March! Keeping the show fresh and new will be the key to success. Variety is the name of the game, but introducing a similar element, like perhaps another drag queen who is forced to play second fiddle to the diva that is Golden Delicious, might spice things up. Or maybe the next step is a story-based cabaret show where there’s a newfound style of interaction by the duo. There’s a world of endless possibility for Golden Delicious and Tucker and we all look forward to seeing what can come next.