Beloved singer Porsche, assisted, of course, by faithful DJ Chuck McTague, gave us a taste of what lies ahead for the new season in 2016’s diverse initial “Porsche Live,” on May 15 at the Ice Palace. And, happily, a number of her selections came from Broadway and film musicals.
“Little Bitty Pissant Country Place,” from “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” started Porsche’s show and established the venue where “there’s nothing dirty going on”—don’t mess with Texas! She stayed with country for “José Cuervo (you are a friend of mine—I had too much tequila last night).” An interpretive dance interlude, courtesy of Colin Hogan-as-‘Land-Shark,’ followed, as he piled plastic tables and chairs on the stage. The Go-Gos’ “Vacation (all I ever wanted)” was Porsche’s next song, to everyone’s relief.
Versatile Porsche sang “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” as Marilyn Monroe, who made the movie; Carol Channing, who originated the part of Lorelei Lee on stage; and Cher and Megan Mullally-as-Karen-Walker, who never went near the role. Our diva then seduced us as Billie Holiday, singing “Them There Eyes,” and “Big Spender,” from “Sweet Charity,” Shirley Bassey-style, was next on her agenda.
Porsche serenaded a pair of new boyfriends with the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It that Way,” and purred and growled Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” to one of them. During an unusually up-tempo “My Heart Will Go On,” the “Titanic” theme, Chuck pelted Porsche with ice cubes. She sang Ella Henderson’s “Ghost (“I keep going to the river to pray”) as Bassey, Liza Minnelli, and Janis Joplin might have. Doing Liza led directly to the “Cabaret” title song, and Liza brought us to her mother, Judy Garland—for whom Porsche shed her blonde wig—for “The Trolley Song,” from “Meet Me in St. Louis,” and “Over the Rainbow,” from “The Wizard of Oz”—we were in the Palace, after all! A tongue-twisting “Come on-a My House,” in Japanese, à la Kitt, came after.
A sexy “Smooth Operator,” Sade’s song, was up next, and then “Rumor Has It,” of Adele, one of Porsche’s alter egos. Then she took us back to the psychedelic ’60s with Grace Slick’s “White Rabbit” and some no-holds-barred Joplin: “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Piece of My Heart.” From the same era came Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man,” a request from an audience member, and from a bit later one, Cyndi Lauper’s “Time after Time.” Then it was back to Janis for the encore, “Summertime,” from “Porgy and Bess,” in Joplin mode.
Hear Porsche at the Palace on Sundays at 6 pm, Tuesdays at 10 pm, and Thursdays at 11 pm.