San Francisco's holiday season is sparkling a little brighter with the return of "The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes" at the Curran Theatre. This drag rendition of the beloved '80s sitcom started in a Western Addition living room in 2005, but it has come a long way, bringing out hundreds of die-hard fans clad in their most outrageous holiday sweaters. The show, featuring iconic drag performers Miss Coco Peru, Matthew Martin, and Holotta Tymes, crafted a night filled with nostalgic reprisals of the series' memorable episodes and musical interludes during scene changes, according to The San Francisco Standard.
This year's performance included a particularly exciting moment for fans when Cindy Fee, singer of the original show's theme song "Thank You for Being a Friend," took the stage post-curtain call to perform the number, receiving roars of approval from the audience. Under the directorship of D’Arcy Drollinger, the production has evolved into a larger-than-life theatrical experience, with a dedicated set designer, Sarah Phykitt, who meticulously ensured the accuracy of the show's details, from the arrangement of knick-knacks on tables to the exact art on the walls, as mentioned by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Not content with mere replication, the troupe went the extra mile by incorporating the original 1920s fan-arm rattan couch used on "The Golden Girls" set, bringing a slice of television history to the stage. Fans were thrilled to learn that Holotta Tymes herself secured the vintage set piece from a Beverly Hills dealer, further enriching the show's authenticity and connection to the original series. The set's loving recreation of the girls' iconic Miami home was a visual treat, complemented by a wardrobe that circulated from satin robes to '80s power suits complete with shoulder pads ready for battle, or at least, a hearty round of jokes and holiday cheer.
The leap from the previous Victoria Theatre to the expansive Curran appears to be a calculated risk that paid off, with around 50% of tickets sold before opening. And while the show has reduced the number of performances, the vibes of the set seem to have only risen in grandiosity. The added space at the Curran has allowed the production to display even more memorabilia, like the original cast's costume pieces, including the iconic holiday-themed outfits recognized by fans worldwide. "The Golden Girls Live" brought the sitcom's couch to the stage and introduced the matching chairs, capturing the essence of Blanche, Rose, Sophia, and Dorothy's living room sanctuary, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
