Melissa Young shakes, shimmies and does the buck and wing in her highly energized show, Out, A Rainbow Celebration. Out leads us on a singing, dancing journey through major events in the Gay Rights Movement beginning with police raids at the Stonewall Inn in New York that, forty years ago, brought national attention to persecution against gays. The musical choices reflect entertainers associated with the Gay Community. Two Judy Garland tunes, “It’s a New World" and “Get Happy” are nicely paired early in the show. Young takes a fun, smartass turn on “Gypsies Tramps and Thieves.” “I’m Coming Out,” traditionally associated with Diana Ross, is particularly meaningful in this show. Young has grand fun with the Tina Turner brassiness and movements in “Proud Mary.” In “Names,” about the AIDS Quilt, Young shows her reflective side and sings tenderly, even tearfully about what the Quilt represents. She is impassioned about her cause, talking fast and selling hard for all attending to join the Gay Rights bandwagon. The Gay Rights timeline, of course, leads to the matter of gay marriage. Out ends with a photo “slideshow” of virtually married gay and lesbian couples that might carry more emotional punch by being shorter.

Carla Gordon
Cabaret Scenes
July 2, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org