photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Dina Martina plays the Palace
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Dina Martina, larger than life and twice as bizarre “Provence-town” and “Seetle” (Seattle) sensation, made a riotous Fire Island debut, at the Ice Palace on May 25, to open season two of Daniel Nardicio’s Icon Series, with DJ Chuck McTague on music and sound. Given to malapropisms and mispronunciations—did you know that the first letter of gift, goes, and gathered is pronounced J?—and fairly bursting out of most unusual garb—or jarb?—like an off-the-shoulder red short skirt? long sweater?, a single epaulet, ship’s captain’s hat, white shoes and ankle warmers, black opera-length gloves, and lipstick by Baby Jane, diva Dina sang about “crunchy granola,” and told us a career that took her from Las Vegas to such show business meccas as Idaho and Easter Island.
Dina’s “Sound of Music” medley began with “My Favorite Things,” with words blithely scrambled, and continued with “Edelweiss,” “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” and “Climb Every Mountain” melodies that weren’t the right ones, the last somewhat sensibly, though, to the tune of “I’m Every Woman.” “A medley,” she shared, “is when you take different songs and sing just the parts you can remember, Scotch-taping them together,” as she launched into one made up of rap, themes from “The Love Boat” and “Green Acres,” and “Evergreen.”
La Martina treated us to film clips of fractured nursery rhymes and patriotic speeches, and aired thoughts about global warming: “Basically, the ice is melting—all of it. Check your drinks.” A touching “Try to Remember” (“Try to be sober/For part of October”) led into a nostalgic monologue about her mother, who tried to give her away; her dream of opening a combination seafood restaurant and salon, should she ever be forced to cease to “singe, dahnce, and ahct;” and her dramatic declaration, Neil Diamond-style,“I am, I said!” while throwing chairs around.
Dina Martina brings her mayhem to New York City in September.
Next on the Icon Series is comic Paula Poundstone, on June 29. Visit www.dworld.us for tickets and information.