Well who knew what the summer 2023 needed was a sweet, fluffy-with-some-complications musical romance set to the tunes of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, aka The Indigo Girls?
That’s “Glitter & Doom,” an indie gem making the rounds of a few festivals and begging for somebody to pick it up — Pride Month or Pride Year — and turn this singing, dancing romance loose on the masses.
Canadian-Filipino actor Alex Diaz and Brit Alan Cammish have the title roles and the most solos and duets. But a Who’s Who of gay and gay-friendly performers populate the supporting cast, some of them singing as well.
“Glitter” (Diaz) is an Ivy League graduate whose studio exec Mom (Ming-Na Wen) is ready for him to take a job — any job — she can arrange “at the studio.” But all he wants to be is a clown — foam rubber nose, floppy shoes, juggling fire and whatnot. And there’s this renowned clown college in Paris…
“Doom” (Cammish) is a singer-songwriter who can’t get on the stage at his favorite gay bar, La Fountaine, because the manager (Lea DeLaria) wants “something lighter.” He has Mom (Missi Pyle) issues as well.
Can these two meet cute and start a love affair that will last? Well, the “meet cute” isn’t very cute. But the romance is a charming slow-starter, not some hook-up-and-move-on thing. One might help the other stand up to his mother and follow his clowning dream. The other might help his new beau grow the spine it takes to go into the studio and try to make his music commercial.
The set-up is a bit weary and the dialogue only has a few memorable lines.
“What if I never get good enough at any one thing for inertia to set in?”
But the conceit here is a winner. Every song Doom writes or duets with Glitter or that we hear on a radio or mixtape (CD) or see as the reason for a big dance number is by the if not under-rated than at least somewhat under-appreciated Indigo Girls.
“Galileo,” “Touch Me, Fall” and “Prince of Darkness” have their moments. The lads are taking a camping trip? “Get Out the Map.” And you know “Closer to Fine” will be a featured showcase number for The Big Scene.
Director Tom Gustafson and his cast and crew filmed in and around Mexico City finding colorful, historic and gorgeous natural settings for scenes and production numbers, most of which are simple delights.
Yes, we tend to forget Missi Pyle’s a pretty good singer. Yes, Tig Notaro lands all the laughs. By herself. And yes, Ming-Na Wen looks good in an eye patch. Look for the “Girls,” and Kate Pierson from the B-52s among others in cameo or bit part roles.
The picture was conceived as a full-length, full “complications” musical and plays a bit long accordingly. They probably cram too many songs in here and too many scenes for this to skip by.
But it works, and one of the great pleasures in it is seeing how well The Indigo Girls’ songs — thoughtful, polished, reflective and occasionally ebullient — fit into a sort of jukebox musical.
When you jump your musical straight into the screen — no theatrical production — you land all these famous Indigo fans for a day or two’s work, players who give your production a little added cachet.
Well done, or as Amy and Emily might say, “Closer to Fine” than anybody would ever expect.
Rating: unrated, PG-13ish.
Cast: Alex Diaz, Alan Cammish, Ming-Na Wen, Missi Pyle, Lea DeLaria, Amy Ray, Emily Saliers and Tig Notaro.
Credits: Directed by Tom Gustafson, scripted by Cory Krueckeberg. a Verve Productions release.
Running time: 1:55
