The Barbary Coast Revue makes me think that this was what things were like for Beach Blanket Babylon in the early days.
Creator Blake Wiers doesn't quite hit the mark with his madcap send-up of life on the Barbary Coast. There's a whale of a tale that includes bigger than life characters from San Francisco's past, including Mark Twain, Lillian Coit (of Coit Tower fame), Shanghai Kelly, and Alma DeBretteville Spreckels (of the sugar family).
Throw in a dose of Emperor Norton (google him!) and mix well with music from the 80s onward. All of the song parodies come from groups who made their mark on the Bay Area music scene.
Some limited audience participation is encouraged when the chorus/refrain of many songs are flashed above the stage for a bit of impromptu sing-along.
I was pleasantly surprised by the good voice work. It's the narrative that will leave you scratching your head, especially if you aren't a little familiar with San Francisco history.
On my visit, the Revue was just beginning its Third season, this instance at the bar/theater space inside of "Balancoire" in the Mission, directly across from Foreign Cinema.
From the miners 49ers through to the Great Earthquake - it's all crammed in with a hearty wink and a nudge.