Dina Martina's "semi-awaited" show performed Sunday at the Rebar in Seattle. Even on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the place was packed, and the bar had to re-arrange the seating configuration to fit in a few more enthusiastic fans.
Shouting "Stop the world, I want to get on!" Dina burst onto the stage in a cringe-worthy, ill-fitting lime green dress--complete with the hairy back, some stray bra straps, and the in-your-face camel toes (don't ask). Dina informed the audience that she had just returned from performing in Las Vegas--where she said she was not born but "breaded"--and was delighted to come back to the "moist regions" of Seattle. She encouraged her fans to "leave their expectations at the door," and to join her in a rare treat of "17 hours of sensory deprivation and world class filler."
She then proceeded to barrel on through some show tunes in her usual tone-deaf fashion. One crowd-pleasing number was "That's Why the Lady is a Tramp," which contained Dina's own version of the lyrics--pertaining to "maple bars" and "stealing cars."
In between her stupefyingly jaw-dropping songs, her scary best friend Dorene put in an appearance. There was also film footage of Dina starring in Bryman College spoofs; and of course free gifts for her fans, including a chocolate nose and strawberry gummy penises.
Throughout the show, Dina was accompanied by the talented Chris Jeffries on piano, who played a great "straight man" to Martina's excruciating zigs and zags.
Dina Martina is the brain child of Seattle performance artist Grady West, who first created her in 1989, when he performed to great applause at the Seattle Center. Since then he's taken his act across the country, to much acclaim.
While this material wasn't West's best, his performance was "high octane," as usual, and his constant presentation of new material always makes the show seem fresh. In fact, West's creation Dina Martina is unique, first-rate entertainment and pure comic genius--surely a Divine Miss M in her own right (though with a bit of a twist).
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