Favorite Fire Island diva Porsche—her new ‘certificate of appreciation in recognition of outstanding dedication and service’ from the Sister Season Fund, Inc.: Locals Helping Locals proudly displayed—concluded her season at the Ice Palace, on September 23, with a “Porsche-thon”—her word—made up of a generous two-and-a-half dozen songs, impressions of colleagues, and even a break to “have a Kiki,” or at least a slice of pizza, her treat. Faithful DJ Chuck McTague was responsible, as always, for music, sound, and lights.
Porsche opened by bidding a frank goodbye to the season (“Let her rip, let it fly”), found love under an “Orange-Colored Sky” and, chugging a Coors light, saluted the “Redneck Woman.” As Bette Midler, she sang “Stuff like That There” and “Otto Titsling,” and as Adele, addressed “Rolling in the Deep” to two young men, Mike and Sean, who were deeply engrossed in each other. The singer gave us a fierce Shirley Bassey (“I want to know what love is”) and turned, surprisingly, to Barry White (“Can’t get enough of your love, baby”).
Porsche then offered dead-on impressions of her sisters Shequida and Ariel Sinclair (“My Vagina Is Eight Miles Wide”); took a break while Chuck did Dame Edith Piro doing “Movin’ on up;” and returned to impersonate Epiphany doing Amy Winehouse (“Valerie”); Lavinia Draper (“Mein Herr”); Brandon Cutrell (“Ballad of Miss Fire Island”); Busted, rummaging in and emptying her purse on stage; and this baritone (“Some Enchanted Evening”). She sang “Coalmine,” with Wendy Lewis dancing; rattled off the countries of the world, in song, in about two minutes; and got through most of the Presidents to the tune of the “Lone Ranger” theme AKA the “William Tell” overture.
Our diva morphed into Doris Day (“Que sera sera”), Petula Clarke (“Downtown”) and, at Andy Porzio’s request, Judy Garland (part of the “Trolley Song” and all of “Over the Rainbow”). After the ‘dinner intermission,’ Porsche returned with “Hit Me with Your Best Shot;” “Fever,” sung as Peggy Lee and Bette Davis; “Angel of the Morning;” an Annie Lennox (“No more ‘I love you’s”); and as Charo, the “Love Boat” theme. An Alanis Morisette; “Come on in My House,” in Japanese, Eartha Kitt-style; “Suddenly Seymour,” from “Little Shop of Horrors,” in duet with Chuck, always an emotional number at the end of the season; “White Rabbit,” as Grace Slick; “Make Your Own Kind of Music;” and finally, “Ladies Who Lunch,” from “Company,” as Elaine Stritch, were among the songs that remained.
Thank you once more, Porsche and Chuck, for a terrific season of music-making!