Forgot to mention what I did last Thursday evening before WonderCon! WonderCon started Friday so I got a bunch of my friends to arrive in San Francisco early enough for what they all seemed to think was one of the most fun evenings they've ever spent. We went to see Beach Blanket Babylon, which is now billing itself as the longest-running musical revue in…hmm, I'm not sure if they're claiming country or world. Either is impressive and after 27 years, it doesn't show any sign of slowing up.
What it is: Beach Blanket Babylon is a two-hour musical show with live music, brilliant performers and incredible costumes. Created by a gent named Steve Silver who is sadly no longer with us, B.B.B. sends up current politicians and celebrities and it is quite hilarious. The cast goes through hundreds of wardrobe changes and each outfit is more outrageous than the one before. That description doesn't do it justice but I really don't know how to explain what an overpowering explosion it is of grand musical comedy voices and stunning visuals. Wendy Pini, the co-creator of Elfquest, was sitting to my left and she was laughing so hard, I thought we'd have to stop the show and perform the Heimlich manuever on her.
Wendy was there with her husband Richard. Also in our party were Len Wein and his wife, Chris Valada; Marv and Noel Wolfman; Carol Lay, Paul Levitz, Paul Dini and superstar retailer Joe Ferrara and his wife, Dottie. Joe knows one of the stars of the show (the lovely and wonderful Tammy Nelson) and he arranged for the great seats.
Before the show, most of us dined at a wonderful Italian restaurant just a few doors away — Capp's Corner, where the food is superb. It really was one of those evenings that couldn't have gone better. If you're going to San Francisco, don't make sure you wear some flowers in your hair. Make sure you book tickets to see Beach Blanket Babylon. And before you do that, drop by Capp's Corner and order anything with their incredible meat sauce on it. Even the spumoni would probably be good that way.