Theatre Review: Mister Miss America Wins The Crown
A one man show is never easy because the audience will only love or hate you. There is no saving grace beyond your ability to save a moment. Mister Miss America, playing until August 7 at Rattlestick Playwirghts, launches with the glitz and wit of its solo lead Neil D’Astolfo as Derek Tyler Taylor. Directed by Tony Speciale, it is as he said, “Ready, Set Go!” and we were launched into the Southern World of Pageants.
Trying to outshine his Virginia competitors, we only know of whom is trying to block Derek from his rightful crown like, a prejudiced queen and his own mom. Though mentioned, and unseen, they become the invisible, bigoted faces of people we have met, and the ones, in our own life, that have tried to stop up from our greatness. At 75 minutes, D’Astolfo whisks us into the inner world of Derek, which is both hilarious and heartbroken. He is like a revved engine that, by nature, loves to go fast, but is, seemingly, going faster to avoid his pain. In essence, he is one lonely queen.
When we think LGBTQ+ culture, it is easy to believe that it is all Rupaul’s Drag Race: glam, rainbows, and shade, which are certainly featured in this play. Yet, heartbreak is a motivator. Think of the many times you had to persist in a physical activity, and use double your energy to get through a task. In some ways, D’Astolfo turns Derek into the spiritual embodiment of that physical act. He is in pain, and he has to work double to get through the task called life. From singing to admiring Patti Lupone, D’Astolfo makes the connection obvious to viewers: she’s not only a Broadway legend, but one that has no problem telling you the STFU.
A very interactive play, D’Astolfo makes Derek our Patti by balancing his spectacular talents with a snark knife. He can read the world like a library, and you enjoy his shady musings on queens you never meet. By the end of it, you wonder how Derek could even lose. He is a phenomena: bursting with brightness, confidence, and a resilience that most cannot say they have or need. In some ways, that is why Mister Miss America is a must-see. Rarely can the heart and humanity of a human firecracker be revealed beyond the sparks and flash we love to see. D’Astolfo makes Derek a show that may be rejected in his world, but is worth a seat to see in ours. Buy Tickets Here.
