A drag version of the hit sitcom 'The Golden Girls' brings Rose and company into the 21st century.

The seventh and the last season of a cult sitcom, The Golden Girls, was broadcast on NBC in 1992, followed by The Golden Palace, a 24-episode sequel produced between 1992 and 1993. But the golden girls themselves—sarcastic Dorothy (Beatrice Arthur), sexy Blanche (Rue McClanahan), silly but well-meaning Rose (Betty White) and Dorothy’s mother Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty)—continue to inhabit American culture.

The premise—four older women who share a home in Miami—says very little about the sassy content. Writer and producer Susan Harris, who also created another award-winning sitcom, Soap (1977-1981), was not afraid to show authentic friendships, with daily emotional challenges—snappy remarks, eye rolls and light gossip that always end up melting into fierce loyalty. 

The stage production Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue coming to Monterey on Nov. 5 grows from the same tradition of love and admiration. The only difference is “the girls” are in drag. The show is written by Robert Leleux and directed by Eric Swanson.  

“During the pandemic, The Golden Girls turned out to be their favorite show for comfort,” says Vince Kelley (Blanche). “We gathered actors who are the show’s fans and created a show that could be seen as a never seen before episode.”

Rewatching old The Golden Girls episodes, one can only marvel how progressive the show was, often discussing topics that are now taboo, such as ethnic stereotypes and talking honestly about dating in the later stages of life and difficult relationships about women. The show is full of sexual content and unapologetic humor.

The Laughs Continue takes the Golden Girls into the 21st century, allowing us to imagine how the girls would react to today’s world of social media, polarized politics and dating via apps. And that’s how the story starts—with Blanche building a social media empire with an app for “horny seniors in Miami desperate for our service.” 

Prepare to see Sofia with an ankle monitor after being mistaken for a drug lord. All that in a familiar decor, with a lot of class, clothes and beautiful makeup. Since the girls are actually rather young, athletic men, there will even be some dancing.

Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue 7pm Wednesday, Nov. 5. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $54-$123. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.