Diversionary Theatre is wrapping up its 38th season with its final main stage production: “TL;DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke Remix.” The world premiere musical runs through June 9 at the University Heights theater.
The irreverent comedy opens with a banger: “Why Do Strong Female Characters Always Gotta Die?” listing the many, many times strong female characters, especially gay women, die in media without a happy ending. Being a vampire or a witch didn’t save Tara of “True Blood” and Tara of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” so what hope do escaped housewife Thelma and waitress Louise have? The musical places the “friends” perpetually suspended over a canyon in their T-Bird, making out at last with a band behind them. The Band, who at times observes and other times interacts with the reimagined 1991 “Thelma & Louise” movie leads, stands in for a modern queer audience struggling to find themselves in pop culture outside of subtext. T and L grapple with just coming out, loving each other, and being thrust into an LGBTQ+ culture of which they are already icons. The pressure placed on them by The Band, which has its own podcast, alienates the new couple as they struggle to even understand ever-shifting LGBTQ+ vernacular.
Celebrating non-mainstream media that has been important to lesbian culture for the past decades, the musical is influenced by slash fan fiction, zines and comics. Seasoned with in-jokes and niche references, the musical does not cater to an audience outside the one in its title. Still, even non-Sapphics will enjoy the rock music, comedic props, great performances and moving moments even if not all jokes land – and that’s okay!
In the lead role of L is Sara Porkalob, whose pitch perfect performance confirms why she was nominated for the 2023 San Diego Critics Circle Outstanding Lead Performance for the play she wrote and starred in, “Dragon Mama.” Back in San Diego, Porkalob takes on Susan Sarandon’s role, to bring fresh humor, insight and heartbreak to the world weary character. Sophia Araujo-Johnson, who has experience in productions at local theme parks, reprised Geena Davis’ role as T with the addition of a breathtaking singing voice. The Band, made up of four speaking roles plus musical director E. Renee Gamez on keyboard, balanced playing instruments while singing and acting in scenes seamlessly. Faith Carrion on percussion brought great energy and humor to the punk group as the domineering femme Henrietta. Frequent San Diego stage presence MG Green as Blazer on bass delivered some scene-stealing lines. The appropriately named Lyric Boothe on guitar as polyamorous Marie stormed the stage with her incredible voice. Diversionary first-timer Steph Lehane, who has performed in New York and LA, embodied an adorable naïveté as the drummer Cubby.
Of the creative team led by director Sherri Eden Barber, props designer and assistant director Leah Osterman deserves special recognition for using simple props at the right time create some of the funniest physical gags in the musical. Yi-chien Lee’s scenic design created an atmosphere reminiscent of “Road House” (1989) with lighting design from Colby Freel and Annelise Salazar bringing in some of the comics-inspired aspects of the musical. Projection designer Sierra’s blend of animation projections and live acting was an endearing inclusion.
EllaRose Chary’s “TL;DR” book and lyrics is a playful and impactful way to elevate the iconic relationship of Thelma and Louise from subtext to text alongside music by Brandon James Gwinn. Efforts are underway from “Thelma & Louise” original screenwriter Callie Khouri to turn the movie into a stage musical, with Amanda Seyfried and possibly Evan Rachel Wood workshopping the project. While indisputably talented, it is unlikely that team will deliver the gay happy ending to Thelma and Louise that LGBTQ+ people have yearned for over the past three decades that Chary’s “TL;DR” so poignantly provides.
Get tickets at diversionary.org or call 619-220-0097.
