|
|
|
|
West |
|
|
|
|
|
Southern CA April 17, 2002
The Rainbow Revue
Reviewed By Les Spindle
|
|
|
|
"The Rainbow Revue"
Theater:Ivar Theatre, 1605 N. Ivar Ave.,
Hollywood.
Phone:(310) 289-1875
Starts:April 05, 2002
Ends: May 28, 2002
Evenings:Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun., 4 p.m.
p.m.
|
Old-time vaudeville and the vintage TV variety show
(shades of Sunday night with Ed Sullivan) are
reincarnated in this charming and unpretentious
entertainment, conceived and produced by Matt Gatson,
who devised this project as a vehicle for talented gay
and lesbian performers: singers, actors, musicians,
comics, musicians, and even a fabulous juggler/mime
(Pinky Aiello). As head writer Chrisanne Eastwood tells
us at the outset, this is a show populated with gay
talents, not a "gay" show. Yet there's no
shortage of camp and plenty of gay-oriented humor amid
the diverse bill of fare. Gatson, director Kevin
Vavasseur, and Eastwood have assembled a stellar group
of gifted, mostly unknown entertainers and have staged
their efforts with few frills but with energy to spare
and an irresistible sense of fun.
We meet the cast in an opening sequence that skewers the
hedonistic Hollywood party scene in a series of Laugh-In
type gags, attended by a motley crowd that includes
nuns, men in togas, and even the busted psychic fraud
Miss Cleo. David Pavao's ruminations on the trials and
tribulations of a gay would-be athlete highlight the
sharp series of standup comedy monologues, with choice
bits also delivered by Zina Camblin, Carmela Nudo, and
Eastwood (who does an amazing on-the-spot song
improvisation based on audience suggestions). Comic Dick
Post delivers an inspirational and touching ode to gay
freedom and self-pride. Martin Kunz offers the wry
lament of a wannabe straight man to the tune of a song
from Disney's "Little Mermaid." Sandy Lawson's
uproarious sketch "Con-versations with a Diva"
makes mincemeat of self-important celebrities.
Without exception, the solo singers click, highlighted
by Charley Geary's gorgeous English-and-Spanish
rendition of "Sensual Rain," punctuated by
sexy, hyper-energetic dancers to a seductive Latin beat,
with choreographic credit to Bart Doerfler. Other superb
romantic ballads include David McNutt's "You Don't
Know Me" and Ryan San Diego's "Shine."
Garrett Bell does a mean Elvis-inspired "Heartbreak
Hotel," and Jennifer Moore's sultry take on Peggy
Lee's "Fever" is embellished by her flair with
a trumpet. Ronn Jones serves up a stylish delivery of
"Surprise" (from the film version of A Chorus
Line), with the red-hot dancers once again upping the
temperature. County & western also has its moment in
Darryl David's foot-stompin', shit-kickin' "Forever
and Ever, Amen." Cole Porter's naughty "Love
for Sale" gets a hip new interpretation by a singer
called Sire, and Jackie Moreno's "Paraiso" is
another showstopper.
The staging is bare-bones, most of the visual pizzazz
deriving from David Raybould's clever and versatile
lighting effects. Kudos is also due the rousing onstage
band and music directors Benjamin Bundt, Nancy Peterson,
J.D. Sebastian, and Moore. We'd be remiss not to mention
a hilarious running gag in the person of William
Thompson, who posts placards identifying current
performers on the side of the stage, grasping every
opportunity to steal centerstage and break into a wild
break-dancing routine. It brings to mind the audacious
Lucy Ricardo and epitomizes the spirit of this
endearingly nostalgic show.
|
|
|
|
© 2002 VNU eMedia, Inc. All
rights reserved. Terms of
Use and Privacy
Policy
|