By Carol Davis
SAN DIEGO— Candye Kane doesn’t know it but I have a lovely portrait, in oils, of her hanging in my home. Funny thing is, I had never heard her sing until I saw her musical autobiography The Toughest Girl Alive now at Moxie Theatre. It is in a world premiere production and she is the star of the show. A fan, friend and artist and one could say ardent follower of her career painted her likeness (I never knew the back story) that now belongs to me.
Having seen her story and being taken aback by her talent, I can understand why she has such a huge following. She was nominated for four National Blues Foundation Awards (2011 and 2010 Contemporary Blues Female of the year, 2010 B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and 2010 Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Superhero)
Her voice and creativity are amazing. Her story would make any mother cringe and her recovery from a life of broken dreams is one for the books which by now has many new chapters among them being a cancer survivor, convert to Judaism and most importantly a caring and loving mother, but I get ahead of myself.
I can’t say that her story is run of the mill because as you will hear, it is anything but. Her life, as we learn about it is a ‘ stranger than fiction story’. The intimate details you will find from Candye herself, but for general starters she was an unwed teen mom. Her home life was less than desirable: she learned to be a petty thief at age 9 with a little help from her own mother. Her Dad deserted the family early on and her home life went nowhere but down. Needless to say, she wanted out.
Living in LA, she became an adult film star to get ‘a fast buck’, she got involved with gangs, drugs, was a porn pin up cover girl, was raped, did telephone sex, sang punk rock, and became a ‘hillbilly and blues- belting anarchist’ who kept looking for love in all the wrong places. By now she was only 21.
Projections (Julie Warren) show that as a young girl she was lovely but overweight and was burdened (some might say) by her very large breasts, which by now are part of her trademark. That she capitalized on them, there is no question. But she is equally proud of the way she looks, (“Love your body, if it’s a little bit or a lot”) championing women to take pride in themselves regardless of size, shape, age or sexual orientation.
Not only does Candye sing but also she writes her own music. She was blessed with a lovely voice since childhood and used that instrument for approval. Her adventures into adult sex and porn helped finance her musical career that had an inauspicious beginning in San Francisco.
10 CD’s (Superhero is the latest and debuted at #9 on the Billboard Blues Charts) later and an international tour on the horizon, Candye has proven herself to be a spokesperson and advocate for as many unpopular causes as you might imagine including legalizing prostitution, championing large sized women and supporting Gay and Lesbian rights.
She is blatantly vocal in promoting women’s rights, peace and equality (‘ban poverty rather than prostitution’ was almost a throwaway line) for all, and as she retells her story it’s difficult to imagine that she survived her adversity (she does admit to making the choices herself) and that she is where she is in her life now.
Adapted and directed by the talented Javier Velasco, (he was the recipient of this years SD Critics Circle award for his choreography in Hairspray) Candye’s story soars when she is on stage and singing the many of her inspirational compositions.
While her story is nothing less than compelling the format, her narrating, sitting or standing in front of the audience while Bethany Slomka, who was also nominated by the SD Theatre Critics for playing Tracy in the SD Reps. Production of Hairspray, was all the other women in Candye’s life and Robert Kirk (all the men) support, sing and act out some of the story, it falls somewhat flat and becomes repetitive after a fashion. One wonders if another track in a different setting, perhaps Cabaret, being herself talking and singing might not have served her story and her talent in a larger light.
Her band sitting on either side of the stage under the projections include her son, Evan Caleb, on drums along with a lively Sue Palmer on piano, Laura Chavez on Guitar and Kennan Shaw on Bass. They’re talent, rather than just waiting for Candye to sing, might have been utilized much more and with more inspiration as well.
Opening night productions are filled with high-pitched expectations, photo ops and praises for just being there. All this is wonderful and the crowd reacted by jumping to its collective feet after the final bows. I’m guessing that with tightening and a few shows under her belt, Candye will loosen up and feel as comfortable telling her scripted story as she would be telling it in someone’s living room. Hers is a story of survival, toughness and humanity and it should be told.
Hats off to the proud gals at Moxie for bringing this ‘99% true story’ to the general public for a closer look at our legendary, home spun Candye Kane who keeps turning heads with her shout outs to raise the level of awareness in support of children with disabilities. Her confidence, assertiveness and affirmations should be a beacon to all who hear her story.
It is worth a look-see, but be prepared to slosh through some rough waters.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Jan.13th– Feb.6th
Organization: Moxie Theatre
Phone: 858-598-7620
Production Type: Musical Biography
Where: 6663 El Cajon Blvd. Suite N. San Diego, CA 92115
Ticket Prices: $25.00 Friday and Saturday, $22.00 Thursday night and Sunday Matinee
Web: moxietheatre.com/toughestgirl
Mature Audiences only
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Davis is a freelance theatre critic based in San Diego.