BWW Reviews: Three Wise Men In Drag [The Kinsey Sicks] Descend Upon Metropolitan Room for Holiday Show 'Oy Vey in a Manger!'

Since their initial launch in 1993, the a cappella group The Kinsey Sicks have emerged as a cultural phenomenon within the LGBT community and far beyond. They've gone on to a multi-month run of their Off-Broadway show, seven CDs, concert appearances across the globe, and a plethora of music videos available on YouTube and elsewhere. Out of drag, they're known as Ben Schatz, Irwin Keller, Jeff Manabat and Spencer Brown. When in character with requisite costumes and makeup, they're Rachel, Winnie, Trixie and Trampolina. Either way, they've brought their delectable holiday show Oy Vey in a Manger! into the Metropolitan Room for a short stint (they'll appear again on Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM and Wednesday, December 10th at 9:30 PM), for a nonstop hour of Yuletide merriment. Winnie will not be appearing, as she's on leave prior to retirement before another takes over in the role, but our other three beauties effortlessly batten down the hatches without her presence. It should be noted that the show is extremely irreverent at times and may not be everyone's cup of tea if easily offended by homoerotic innuendo and double-entendre, but anyone with a sense of humor is certain to be delighted in any case.

What proves possibly most striking about The Kinsey Sicks isn't merely their phenomenal vocal blend, but their astonishing ability to cross the line between harmonic brilliance and side-splitting comedy. Oy Vey in a Manger! does have a specific plot, namely the girls being foreclosed on the manger they'd grabbed from Mary and Joseph 2,000 years earlier and their imminent eviction. Intertwined between brilliant bits of dialogue among the three, without any losing their inherent character traits (Trampolina is still the group ditz, Trixie is still the calm and collected fashion plate, and Rachel is still the frenetic mess), they take us through a gathering of holiday songs rewritten as parody from the very top of the show. These include "God Rest Ye Femmy Lesbians," "Lusty the Snowman," "Satan Baby," "Jews Better Watch Out, Jews Better Not Cry," "O Little Town of Meth Mayhem," "Soylent Night," and "I'm Dreaming of a Vanna White Christmas," as well as a few whose titles are slightly too vulgar to print in polite company.

Perhaps the truest surprise comes with these folks' ability to switch off between vocal range. Normally, when Winnie is present, it's she who provides the bass notes while the other three harmonize. This time around, all three take turns and do so effortlessly. It's truly an incredible display of their artistry, and singlehandedly tosses them into another dimension. It should also be noted that Jean-Pierre Perreaux is his usual glorious self on technical direction and helps wrap the show into an even more glittering holiday package.

It's not known at the time of this writing when The Kinsey Sicks will return to the fair shores of New York, but when they do, a splendid time is guaranteed for all. In the meantime, we can rest assured that they'll be having themselves a merry little Christmas, as will their fans.

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