"From the moment the show starts at SF Oasis, it feels like stepping into the early '90s - but with a sharper, campier edge. Photos of 'Fresh Prince' at SF Oasis by Vita Hewitt for The Bold Italic. By Vita Hewitt When I heard that Oasis brought their production of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air back by popular demand, I had an out-of-body experience and found myself on their doorstep for opening night. It was the draw of the "Carlton Dance" - always and forever."
"And Oasis knows exactly how to tap into that nostalgia while making it feel, well, fresh. The show bursts with energy, from Major Hammy's charismatic Will to Mudd's neurotic Carlton. The lip-syncs, the over-the-top physical comedy, and the perfectly timed '90s references make it feel like stepping into a time machine - if that time machine also had a drag queen at the controls."
"It's been 35 years since the show catapulted Will Smith into stardom, not to mention ushering in a legacy of Black people in entertainment since the 90s. Television of this era was very white, and on that part, director Snaxx noted: "It was important to me to not only introduce a new show that was deeply nostalgic for me, but a show that featured Black performers.""
The production recreates early 1990s Fresh Prince energy with amplified camp, lip-syncs, physical comedy, and precise '90s references, anchored by standout performers portraying Will and Carlton. The show leverages the iconic "Carlton Dance" and other memories to deliver both nostalgia and fresh theatricality through drag performance. The staging emphasizes Black representation and the show's historical role in advancing Black presence on television. The production acknowledges that vintage TV can age poorly and contends with later controversies tied to original cast members, while aiming to keep the past distinct from current criticism.
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