‘SF Follies’ set to skewer The City
By Greg Archer Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO – It’s not easy fitting 300 years of San Francisco history into 90 minutes — and making it funny — but John Bisceglie isn’t worried.

When it comes to The City, there’s plenty of material to creatively play with. But what can audiences expect when the curtain finally rises on the local producer-director’s lavish “SF Follies” on Friday?
“Secrets, scandals and urban folklore,” Bisceglie hints, “and a hilarious jaw-dropping musical revue overflowing with singing, dancing and outrageous comedy.”

Think of it as a distant cousin in the “Beach Blanket Babylon” family. Bisceglie’s “Follies,” which features 15 performers, is actually a revamped version of his hugely successful “San Jose Follies,” which became part of San Jose’s theatrical tapestry in the early 1990s. Although he says the San Jose show was “a lot of fun,” he and the show’s co-author, Jason Tarshis, “always thought that the show was bigger and [more gutsy] than San Jose.”

“It literally screamed out for San Francisco,” he adds.  “[The show] is as unique and zany as The City itself.”
Bisceglie and Tarshis worked long hours with actors who will be portraying many well-known San Francisco “celebs.”
There’s a crooning Mayor Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco Brown twins, a disco dancing Dianne Feinstein, Patty Hearst, Jan Wahl, thugs and hoodlums on Muni, and a nearly naked gold miner.

For the “Follies” christening, Bisceglie sent out more than 700 invites and comp tickets, including those named on the show’s “Hit List” — those parodied in the show.
“We wanted to give them the opportunity to see the show and how we portray them. We hope they come, especially Mayor Newsom,” he says. “I would love to recreate the success I saw in the South Bay and make the show something people really enjoy. For me, it’s all worth it when people are laughing out loud … I like to exceed the audience’s expectation of quality and value.”

Audiences can also expect a raffle each night with hundreds of prizes, including tickets and gift certificates to several revered theaters and restaurants in The City.

Bisceglie also notes that the show is really a nine- to 13-week test to see if it “grows some legs and becomes popular.” If it does, the plan is to mount the production on an ongoing basis in partnership with a different venue — restaurant, supper club and the like.

“Our show is down-to-earth and all about laughing out loud,” he says. “It’s not watered down like a cheesy S.F. commercial. It’s got bite. We are proud to be an equal opportunity offender.”