“Grelley Duvall Best Actress” transfixes, transcends and offers a welcome bit of trash

The award for best actress in a leading role goes to…. Grelley Duvall!

The first time I heard the name Grelley Duvall was after “Grelley Duvall V” closed in

spring of 2025. Now I’m kicking myself over every Grelley show I’ve missed since the

2015 debut in Steppenwolf’s “Lookout” series.

I had expected a variety show format, with guest performers introduced by a colorful

emcee like Bridget Murphy’s long-running Milly’s Orchid Show at the Park West. And

when I heard would be drag performance, my main reference points were the ultra-glam

queens of the Baton Show Lounge, or the campy, sweet performers at Hell in a

Handbag.

My opening night theater companion at “Best Actress,” described Grelley shows as

song-based, with scenes that come together in the logic of a fever dream.

But nothing prepared me for the jaw droppingly talented Alex Grelle, a charismatic actor,

dancer and singer with gorgeous eyes and a long face that reminded me at times of a

young Hugh Laurie, or the empathetic, playfully uninhibited Cole Escola, the creator-

performer of “Oh, Mary!” Except Grelle can also dance with abandon in heels, has a

helluva leg extension, and can sing sweetly or with gusto, and sometimes both as in

Alyson Reed’s solo “Let Me Dance for You” from “A Chorus Line.”

An homage to the leading ladies of stage and screen, “Best Actress” is structured

similarly to an evening spent watching the Oscars on TV, including film clips, montages,

interview snippets, speeches and the commercials in between -- plus impromptu

moments from backstage.

Grelle’s portrayals of the actresses who inspire him are often touchingly earnest and

poignant (Mary Tyler Moore, Nicole Kidman and Shelley Duvall) even as he relishes

unleashing the quirks, sluttiness and bitchiness of others (Kim Novak, Sharon Stone,

and Showgirls Gina Gershon and Elizabeth Berkley).

It’s fair to say there’s a fever dream logic to “Best Actress” as conceived by Grelle and

Jesse Morgan Young with direction by Kasey Foster. Myriad forms of creative

expression are used in the show which ping pongs between staged scenes, hysterical

film shorts (directed by Glam Hag) and song and dance numbers. The dances feature

brilliant choreography by Erin Kilmurray and Kasey Alfonso that ranges from the balletic

to the bump and grind and are performed by extraordinarily talented dancers (Kara

Brody and Darling Shear). The show is backed by a kickass band led by Aunt Kelly and

further enhanced with puppets created and performed by Madigan Burke and Lolly

Extract. The puppet horses in the “Black Narcissus” send up was one of my favorite

bits. The cast also includes character actors Patrick Stengle and Mary Williamson, who

are no slouches at song and dance.

The rigorously polished production lets the audience lean back and enjoy the wild ride,

happy to be in the hands of consummate pros. Stage Manager Sam Burkett and

Production Manager Anastar Alvarez clearly deserve credit for this.

The production team is too vast to name, but it seems important mention that every

leading lady must have costumes and hair designed at the highest level. Costumer

Alaina Moore and wig designer Keith Ryan rise to the occasion. Period wardrobe

standouts included Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin’s dresses and bonnets for “The

Piano” and Nicole Kidman’s prim Victorian attire as Virginia Woolfe in “The Hours.”

I spent a good portion of the show laughing with recognition at canonical moments of

the actresses portrayed by Grell. I also caught myself sitting with my mouth hanging

open, sometimes because the beauty of the dances transported me, and sometimes

because the no holds barred energy and sexual bravado surprised me. This show is for

you if you love movies, and theatre that pushes boundaries. And if you grew up in the

repressed Reagan years of the 80s like I did, well, that’s all the more reason to see

“Best Actress.”

The world premiere of “Grelley Duvall Best Actress” is playing now through April 12 at

the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Performances run Thursdays to Saturdays at

8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets and more information are available at

ChopinTheatre.com.

Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Larson.

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