In Showgirl, Marlène Saldana and Jonathan Drillet takes inspiration from the cult classic Showgirls, by Paul Verhoeven. In this production, Saldana explores the queerness of the film through the eyes of its controversial main character, Nomi. Saldana’s work onstage is scored by the French queer techno artist Rebeka Warrior who adds a vivd layer of disco ornamentation. The show is a display of glamorous costumes, bright colors, and glitter; a beautiful stage for a story that will explore themes of violence and emptiness. In other words, how might “camp” offer an alternative to our reality?
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RELATED EVENTS
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Reccommended readings to get you in gear for the show
- Mark Lipton, Queer at Camp: A Selected Assemblage of Resistance and Hope (2019)
- Linda Ruth Williams, INTERVIEW: DIRECTOR PAUL VERHOEVEN (2005)
- Susana Loza, Sampling (Hetero)Sexuality: Diva-Ness and Discipline in Electronic Dance Music (2001)
- Susan Sontag, Notes on ‘Camp’ (1999)
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MARLÈNE SALDANA/JONATHAN DRILLET
“A trashy American musical, an absurd cabaret, a techno oratorio of gender stereotypes”
Showgirl de Johnathan Drillet et Marléne Saldana
A podcast overview and analysis of the production in French, with English captions available.
Have you seen ‘Showgirls’?
Have you seen ‘Showgirls’?
How Showgirls exposed the rot of our misogynistic culture
“However perhaps the most important element of the film’s incredible afterlife was the way in which it was embraced by the drag community.”
Showgirls: The remarkable resurrection of the worst movie ever made
“She goes to the big city, finds a family, and she uses her strength, knowledge and sexuality to achieve her dreams,” McHale explains. “I think that’s something so uniquely queer.”
