San Francisco's satirical musical revue and local institution Beach Blanket Babylon celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. On Friday, June 6, at Noon, the city will honor the legendary show, known for its outlandish song parodies and outrageous hats, with a celebration at City Hall.
As a recent visit to Club Fugazi proved, Beach Blanket Babylon is showing no signs of a mid-life crisis or of slowing down. The show is still a rapid-fire assault on the eyes, ears and funny bone, with its cast of 10 gleefully skewering pop-culture icons, celebrities and politicians of the day. The show was the creation of master showman Steve Silver, and his partner, producer Jo Schuman Silver, has carried on his creative vision since his death in 1995. "Since Steve has gone, it's very bittersweet, but it's a labor of love," she says. "It's like a higher power that we have to keep pleasing �" keeping his vision and constantly updating it."
For the uninitiated, the show's loose story-line follows a squeaky-clean Snow White on a quest to find her Prince, which takes her from San Francisco to many parts of the globe. A variety of larger-than-life characters, including Glinda, King Louis, and pop icons of the day, aid, abet, or distract her on her journey.
Schuman Silver notes that part of keeping the show fresh over the years has been keeping up with audience's shrinking attention spans. "In the 1980s we had the MTV generation, and now we have the Internet generation," she says. "So we just do everything faster and quicker."
With many of the songs, skits, and gags ripped from the headlines, politicians of all stripes, from the Clintons to the Bushes, Michelle Bachmann to the Obamas, are fair game. "You have to make fun of everybody," says Schuman Silver. "Republicans love it as much as Democrats. The audience decides what works and what doesn't."
Some of her favorite memories of the show include a 1997 performance at London's Covent Garden, and its 20th anniversary performance at the San Francisco Opera House. "We did the 2000 Gore vs. Bush election to Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' and we did Obama's 2008 win as a Les Miz number." With some tweaking of lyrics, that epic number is still stopping the show.
One of Babylon's veteran performers is Curt Branom, who joined the cast in 1994, and plays, among many roles, the flamboyant King Louis. "I was in the show before Steve passed away, and when he did, it was traumatic," he says. "We didn't know if the show would survive, but he made plans for it to go on."
Branom has left the show over the years to pursue other opportunities, but he's been performing in it continuously since 2002. "It's the steadiest job in San Francisco, and none of us take that for granted," he says.
Married since 2008 to renowned composer Jake Heggie, with whom he has an 18-year-old son, Branom's favorite part of this long-term gig is the ability to hone his stagecraft seven to nine times a week. "It's given me a lot of confidence, the ability to try new things, and it's a nice feeling to be comfortable enough to make mistakes. I still get excited before every show."
The daily tweaks to the material, and constant introduction of new bits and numbers, keep the cast on their toes. "Sometimes our director Kenny Mazlow will add or change lines an hour before the show �" and sometimes during the show. When we see him come backstage during the show, everyone cringes."
Some of Branom's fondest memories include Carol Channing joining the cast one night, for what would become Steve Silver's last show. A visit from Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was another highlight. "It was amazing to have royalty sitting in our little cabaret chairs," he says. "We did give them nice cushions, but that was it. And they couldn't have been more gracious.
"Performing for Henry Kissinger as Henry Kissinger for George Schultz' 90th birthday was amazing. All of the Secretaries of State showed up, and I performed 'One' from A Chorus Line as Kissinger. He was howling."
As long as our pop culture continues to churn out Kardashians, Lady Gagas, and Sarah Palins, Beach Blanket Babylon will continue to have grist for its satirical mill. If you've never seen the show, or haven't seen it in a while, its 40th anniversary is a perfect opportunity to treat yourself to one hilarious evening.
Beach Blanket Babylon 40th anniversary celebration, Fri., June 6, at Noon, SF City Hall. Shows: Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd., SF. Tickets and showtimes (Wed.-Sun.): (415) 421-4222 or beachblanketbabylon.com.