Actor-writer-producer Sean Moran stars in this series, Queen Dad.
There are two seasons, probably put together as teasers so it could be picked up as a series. I think actually it would also make a good movie.
The story concerns a 17-year-old boy, Jack (Matt Parisi) who leaves Paris, Texas, and heads to Vermont to meet his father, Monty (Moran), who is a plumber by day, a drag queen by night, and gay 24/7. His homophobic son is grossed out, but at the moment, he has nowhere else to go.
He winds up working the bar at the Male Box, run by a take-no- prisoners woman, Betty (Ethel Goldstein) where his father performs. Slowly but surely, he begins to accept his father and his friends. In fact, at one point, when Monty is gay-bashed, Jack replaces him, not as a drag queen, but doing a sexy dance and taking off his shirt.
The rest of the cast includes Nick (Jon van Luling) who works as the club as a bouncer of sorts, and Ben Ash as Henry, a bisexual widower.
The production values for this low-budget series are excellent, right down to the music and the credits. The series is uneven in pace, and the role of Jack is miscast -- he looks 35 rather than 17, and Betty, though good, is over the top. She needed to be toned on a little. The rest of the actors are fairly low key.
Moran, who in my opinion is a big talent, gives a wonderful performance as a sweet, emotional man who accepts himself and makes no apologies, and as a man who demands respect. His drag routines are hilarious.
Watching this, it made me think about creativity and no matter how much money or exposure you have, how one finds a way to express oneself. This was a very ambitious project, well done.
Moran, who appeared in the film Grease and in the miniseries Studs Lonigan, the film Flags of Our Fathers, starred in the TV series Johnny Zero, and appeared in dozens of TV shows, is a wonderful writer as well as actor. I think we will be seeing more of his writing and acting efforts in a larger venue.
