Wednesday Feb 6, 2008 (7:30pm)
Though more traditional than, say, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Blake Edwards' musical Victor Victoria still displays a similar mentality about gender preferences and performances. Wholesome Julie Andrews masquerades as a male soprano whose Victor/Victoria cabaret act involves "his" impersonation of a woman. Soon, '30s Paris is swooning, a drastic turnaround brought about by the encouragement of a gay entertainer (Robert Preston). Among Andrews' admirers is a very confused, very straight Chicago gangster (James Garner), providing some slapstick silliness. A heartfelt romp with plenty of Henry Mancini tunes, it's nostalgia playfully wedded to progressive ideas.
– Jason Jude Chan