Hedda Lettuce – Dressing on the Side ★★★★★

To label Lettuce a “drag comic” doesn’t do her justice. She is among the best comedians out there, period, whether in drag or not. With a lightning-fast wit and razor-sharp tongue, she extracts information from her audience before roasting them to a crisp. “What is your name, darling?” Lettuce asks her first victim. “Don’t worry. What is your name? I’m just making polite conversation.”

But audience members should worry because Lettuce is about to turn the most mundane details of their lives into interwoven punchlines that come back again and again in the show. There’s Paul, who grew up outside of Philadelphia. “Next time, don’t mention that,” Lettuce deadpans. “Just say, ‘I don’t remember where I’m from.’”

“What do you do?” Lettuce asks. Paul’s answer is a real buzzkill; he’s a project manager in an oncology practice. But Lettuce is up to the challenge, declaring that her show “just went to Stage 4” before improvising multiple cancer jokes that left the crowd gasping for breath.

Matthew, the insurance lawyer. Chris, a writer for People magazine. Oliver, a German hairstylist. All become delicious ingredients in Lettuce’s kitchen. And when she gets to Brian, a talent agent, Lettuce finds the perfect segue into her next song.

While audience participation is the highlight of the show, Dressing on the Side is cabaret in its classic form. No mere drag lipsyncher, Lettuce is a musical belter who delivers original satirical songs between her stand-up comedy. “The Queen of Green” was the perfect 9 o’clock number, on brand for a performer known for her neon green hair. There’s even a little hoofing on stage. As the show’s poster declares: “Live Vocals. Light Dancing.”