Arts & Entertainment
‘Alive and Well’
Zippy ‘Jacques Brel’ revue a smartly paced sonic treat
‘Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living In Paris’
Through Oct. 21
MetroStage
1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria
$45-$50 (student and military discounts)
1-800-494-8497
The cast of ‘Jacques Brel,’ a well-staged French revue. (Photo courtesy MetroStage)
Belgian-born singer songwriter Jacques Brel might have joined the family cardboard manufacturing business and lived a life of quiet desperation. Happily, he didn’t. Brel instead escaped to postwar Paris and became the musical voice of his generation, turning out popular French songs about war, death, love, bulls and carousels.
In “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” the best of Brel’s vast songbook is featured in two cabaret-like acts; and lucky for us locals, a topnotch production of the musical is now up and running at MetroStage (Carolyn Griffin’s intimate and estimable playhouse on the edge of Old Town Alexandria) through mid-October.
Translated from the original French by American poet Eric Blau and songwriter Mort Shuman, “Jacques Brel” premiered off-Broadway in 1968. Subsequent successful revivals have run in New York over the years including a 2006 revised production (which MetroStage is presenting).
The show opens with “Le Diable/Ca Va,” a zippy tune noting that the devil rules supreme on earth. And while Brel might believe modern existence is essentially crap, other songs prove he does find some things to savor in life like wit, wistful memories and the exquisite pain of lost love and missed opportunity.
A lot of the music is nostalgic and sounds French (accordion and all), but overall there’s variation ranging from the catchy, bourgeois-denigrating drinking song titled “The Middle Class” to “Next” (a young vet’s sardonic recollection of his experience with camp followers) to Brel’s familiar “Amsterdam,” an earthy ode to the lowly seaman, powerfully sung by Bobby Smith who brilliantly embodies the world-weary boulevardier.
Each of the show’s almost 30 songs is a self-contained story with its own beginning, middle and end all drawn from past romances, reckless youth, disappointment and hard living. Lighting designer Jessica Winfield evocatively sets the mood for each melodic tale and all four cast members are superb storytellers with terrific diction and phrasing to boot. In addition to the aforementioned Smith, the terrific cast includes Natascia Diaz, Bayla Whitten and a shaggy-haired Sam Ludwig.
Diaz performed in the off-Broadway 2006 production and it shows. She gives life to the spirit of Brel’s Paris, capturing the sadness, wit and irony in equal measure. Her heartrending interpretation of “My Death” is not soon forgotten. She’s just as effective singing Brel’s gorgeous Piaf-esque ballad “Ne Me Quitte Pas” (“Don’t Leave Me”) as the quietly potent “Old Folks,” a sort of lullaby about the inevitability of old age and death. Hers is a stunning performance.
The younger cast members Ludwig and Whitten (a lovely soprano) are excellent too. He beautifully inhabits the angry-but-girl crazy young man while she is at turns both naïve and jaded.
This “Jacques Brel” brings together Studio Theatre’s producing artistic director Serge Seiden with Signature Theatre’s associate artistic producer Matthew Gardiner (both gay). Seiden’s staging is beyond solid. The production moves briskly and seamlessly without ever feeling rushed or forced. Gardiner’s cheery choreography is reserved mostly for the more lighthearted numbers. It’s fun, but more importantly, his dance sequences allow the players to interact in ways that might otherwise appear awkward.
Except for a pole with lights evocative of a street lamp and two simple café chairs that disappear when not needed, the shadowy stage is completely bare. Off to the side, the band (ably led by musical director Jenny Cartney on piano) is visible throughout the show. It could be the late night Parisian club scene where Brel got his start. For the first act, Janine Sunday smartly costumes the cast in vaguely late-‘60s gear, nicely conveying an era of protest and change. Puzzlingly, the second act — sartorially speaking — is more a hodgepodge of castoffs.
Contrary to the title, Brel is neither well nor alive. He died of lung cancer in 1978, but the music endures. Today his songs resonate as strongly as ever. For the uninitiated (which included myself prior to a recent matinee), MetroStage’s stylish effort serves as a marvelous introduction to Brel’s work. It’s also first rate entertainment.
Friday, March 27
Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].
Saturday, March 28
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.
Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].
Monday, March 30
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).
“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, March 31
Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, March 1
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, April 2
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.
Tickets can be secured via Resy.
Sports
New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics
New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.
“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.
The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”
“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”
The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”
The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”
“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
(Video courtesy of the IOC)
Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.
Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.
Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.
President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.
“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.
An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.
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