Telling the story of her family’s history, the Filipino powerhouse delivers a stunning one-person performance with effervescent singing, incredible characterizations, and the savage intimacy of reality.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 09-14-2024
Nothing is quite as engaging and revelatory on a theatrical stage as a one-person show executed with emotional precision and dynamic energy. In Dragon Lady at the Geffen Playhouse, Filipino performer Sara Porkalob peels back the onion of her family’s history. Indeed, she reveals tears and dreams, talents and hardships in an inspiring performance that should not be missed.
On the eve of her 60th birthday in her daughter’s home, where she lives in a decked-out basement that feels like a Filipino nightclub, Maria Porkalob Sr. shows her new karaoke machine to her granddaughter Sara. Singing personal adaptations of classic songs, Maria wants Sara to hear the real story of her life with all the warts and wonders.
Growing up in a Manilla nightclub after gangsters rub out her father for unpaid gambling debts, Maria’s redemption is her ability to sing. It does not mean that she escapes the claws of the Dragon Lady proprietor or the desires of the abusive gangsters. However, she does get to perform, escaping the prison of just being a prostitute. She gets a chance to show the true colors of her natural talents.
As the granddaughter of Maria, Sara inherited her talents. As a singer, she is impressive with a lovely range from delicate to robust. Behind a curtain on the stage, her backing band fleshed out each song with skill and passion. Pete Irving, Jimmy Austin, and Mickey Stylin are the unseen support systems of the one-person show that elevates the musical aspect of the performance. It allows the Broadway star of 1776 to shine, taking the idea of the karaoke machine to the next level of realization.
Directed with precision by Andrew Russell, Dragon Lady wonderfully balances the comedy with the pathos. As the story delves into her family’s troubled early days, Sara Porkalob takes on the challenge of a multitude of characterizations, including young boys, teenage girls, and elderly white neighbors. Such breadth is an essential element of the show’s success.
There is never a moment where the character being taken on does not come to life. The versatility of her portrayals adds to the emotional resonance of the one-person show. Very few actors can accomplish what Sara Porkalob manages to achieve in Dragon Lady. Indeed, this is a show that should not be missed. Afterward, when Sara Porkalob informed the audience that the show was the first in what would be a three-part Dragon Cycle, it was clear that the audience was excited to see what this talented performer would accomplish moving forward.
Photos by Jeff Lorch Courtesy of the Geffen Playhouse
