Ashley thanks you again for being a friend and spreads holiday cheer with the cast of The Golden Girls!
Happy Day Before Thanksgiving, gang! I like to imagine you’re all spending today in your yoga pants sipping on spiked pumpkin spiced lattes while watching Golden Girls reruns. But in case you’re at work or in the middle of meal prep, I have your Golden Girls fix right here. So grab a warm beverage and read on!
It’s that magical time of year again. The city is full of shoppers and light and of course, the radiant presence and spirit of San Francisco’s favorite holiday tradition, The Golden Girls live in performance. I had the chance to talk to the four stars of this year’s The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes (which opens on December 3rd at The Victoria Theatre) and their thoughts are truly hilarious, delicious, and heartfelt. A perfect holiday treat!
First, tell us who you playing in the show?
Holotta Tymes: Sophia
Heklina: I play Dorothy Zbornak, who was of course immortalized by the untouchable Bea Arthur.
D’Arcy Drollinger: Rose Nylund
Matthew Martin: I’m playing Blanche, of course!
Matthew Martin (Blanche), Heklina (Dorothy), D’Arcy Drollinger (Rose), and Hollotta Tymes (Sophia) in The Golden Girls “The Christmas Episodes”; photo by Mr. Pam
If your character was a drink, what would they be?
Holotta Tymes: An old fashioned.
Heklina: Either a Salty Dog or a Rusty Nail. Or a Screwdriver.
D’Arcy Drollinger: A Shirley Temple
Matthew Martin: A Mint Julep on a veranda on a hot night.
Which Golden Girl captures your real life personality?
Holotta Tymes: Sophia for sure.
Heklina: Definitely Dorothy. As I am the most sarcastic person I know. Also, my joke delivery is very dry and I can deliver a withering side-eye. I’m also very much Blanche because I’m boy crazy!
D’Arcy Drollinger: Well, I was born on the same day as Betty White, so I’m going to have to go with Rose.
Matthew Martin: I think there’s a little bit of all of them in everyone, and that’s why they are so relatable to audiences, but sometimes I feel like guileless innocent Rose more often than not, and just play a slut like Blanche onstage!
If you could be stuck on a desert island with only one of the Girls, who would you pick?
Holotta Tymes: Blanche. She’s such a tramp.
Heklina: Dorothy! Definitely not Rose, she’d drive me crazy with her St. Olaf stories.
D’Arcy Drollinger: Again I’m going to have to say Rose, especially after watching “Vacation” episode 8 in season 2 when Rose takes control when they get stranded on a tropical island.
Matthew Martin: Well, I’d say Blanche but that would be myself, and Dorothy is always good company!
Caption: Heklina (Dorothy), Hollotta Tymes (Sophia) D’Arcy Drollinger (Rose) and Matthew Martin (Blanche), in The Golden Girls “The Christmas Episodes”; photo by Mr. Pam
What has been your favorite part of this year’s production process so far?
Holotta Tymes: The casting couch. ;0)
Heklina: Well, it’s been a very bittersweet year as I miss my partner in The Golden Girls, Cookie Dough, terribly. Everything about the production is a reminder of her. But getting to work with new additions to the cast has been great.
D’Arcy Drollinger: Rehearsals have been so much fun. It’s hard to get through the scenes sometimes with all the laughing.
Matthew Martin: Lots of laughs with fun people!
What do you think will delight the diehard fans of the Golden Girls the most in this year’s show?
Holotta Tymes: The cast this year is a lot of fun; I think everyone is in for a good laugh.
Heklina: The material and the dialogue, of course. And the outfits. When you put four queens in drag as these characters it’s just comedy gold.
D’Arcy Drollinger: The set is going to be great this year!
Matthew Martin: The addition of Holatta Tymes to the cast. A great performer and person. The greatest tribute to Eddie/Cookie is going on with the show with such a seasoned performer playing Sophia.
To those who haven’t seen the show before, why is this year the perfect introduction to this San Francisco holiday tradition?
Holotta Tymes: Both episodes chosen for this year, I think, are some of the best of the sitcom. Funny and charming.
Heklina: This year is no different. There is never a bad time to attend this show and bask in the camp overload. It’s also the only show I do all year long that you could bring your grandmother to and she wouldn’t get offended.
D’Arcy Drollinger: It deals with friends, family and drag queens!
Matthew Martin: With the faithful fans flocking to The Victoria and growing exponentially year after year, anyone who hasn’t been to The Happening that the GGs is will have an onsite conversion!
What drink or snack can your fans treat you to after the show?
Holotta Tymes: Reese’s peanut butter cups
Heklina: I should say cheesecake, I know, but the truth? A cheeseburger.
D’Arcy Drollinger: Cheesecake!
Matthew Martin: A taco and a Mexican coke. Hey, we’re in the Mission.
Caption: D’Arcy Drollinger (Rose), Matthew Martin (Blanche), Heklina (Dorothy) and Hollotta Tymes (Sophia) in The Golden Girls “The Christmas Episodes”; photo by Mr. Pam
What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving season?
Holotta Tymes: My friends, family and the chance to work with such a great cast.
Heklina: To have survived another year in San Francisco! Also, to have opened Oasis.
D’Arcy Drollinger: Friends, family and drag queens! I am joining the cast for the first time this year and I am grateful to be part of such a fun SF tradition.
Matthew Martin: My family and friends and the many blessings in my life.
Where can we see you next? What do you have going on after this production closes?
Holotta Tymes: You can catch me in “Sunday’s A Drag Brunch” atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. A drag brunch with attitude
Heklina: Straight into New Year’s Eve preparations!
D’Arcy Drollinger: You can catch me in Three’s Company at Oasis as Chrissy Snow. And in June 2016 as Samantha in Sex and the City Live!
Matthew Martin: Hopefully you can see me on a beach in Hawaii whilst I’m on vacation! Our film of Hush Up, Sweet Charlotte just premiered and will soon be distributed. We are doing Three’s Company next year playing Mrs. Roper, another installment of D’Arcy Drollinger’s Champagne White Saga onstage, filming Dead Ringer with Billy Clift playing Bette Davis twins, my solo show here and there and working on other projects. Busy, busy….
In 160 characters (or less!) tell us (tweet style; so emoticons are encouraged!) why we need to come see the show:
Holotta Tymes: It’s become a new San Francisco holiday tradition!
Heklina: YOUR FAVE X-MAS TRADITION RETURNS #DOROTHY #ROSE #SOPHIA #BLANCHE #XMASINMIAMI #💋🙌 #CHEESECAKEONTHELANAI #WICKERFURNITURE
D’Arcy Drollinger: Season 5, episode 3 The Accurate Conception. Golden Girls and cum jokes. Merry Xmas!
Matthew Martin: It’s become a SF tradition for many and always a feel-good holiday happening. The cross-section of people in audiences to me is the essence of San Francisco: male, female, gay, straight, old, young, all having a good laugh together at Christmastime.
The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes – 2015 Performance Dates are Dec. 3 – 20, 2015. Plays Thurs. Fri. & Sat. – 8:00pm / Sun. – 7:00 pm at The Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. (between Mission and Capp) SF, CA 94103. Tix available at: http://goldengirlschristmas.eventbrite.com/
San Francisco Theater Pub 