This month, I’m reporting on a funny lady and a funny Liza:
Bazazz: A Sequined Variety - at Don’t Tell Mama
Variety shows were a staple of 70’s television; The Carol Burnett Show, Cher, The Donny and Marie Show, The Jacksons, Tony Orlando and Dawn - they were everywhere! Recent efforts to revive the genre (Maya & Marty, anyone?!), have all fallen short.
Bazazz: A Sequined Variety brings the variety show format to cabaret, with the fabulous Rick Skye hosting as Liza Minnelli. Joining him for these monthly extravaganzas, will be a rotating roster of guest performers, along with Skye’s Kit Kat Boyz, and musical director Ricky Ritzel.
For the one or two of you who may be unfamiliar with Rick Skye, it would be unfair of me to call him just another Liza impersonator. Anyone who’s seen him knows he’s a dynamic, multi-award winning performer, director, and brilliant parodist, whose loving and hilarious tributes to Minnelli have been seen across the U.S. and in the United Kingdom.
From beginning to end, the first performance of Bazazz was laugh-out-loud funny. The talented, adorable Kit Kat Boys (Tim Canali, Robert Westfahl, Adrian Rifat) introduced Skye’s Minnelli, resplendent in a black sequined pantsuit, and together, they gave us the title song, “Bazazz,” by Liza’s godmother, Kay Thompson. Kyle Rostan’s clever choreography made great use of the tiny stage, and the excellent harmonies had me smiling from the start.
In a funny bit after the opener, Liza, huffing and puffing, drank copious amounts of ‘prescription’ water, after which we heard Skye’s ingenious parody of “If Mama Was Married,” about how different life would be if Judy had met the perfect husband. But, she sings, ‘...Mama has issues, she treats men like tissues, she blows ‘em and throws ‘em away!’ We also got a wonderful recreation of “Arthur in the Afternoon,” from Kander & Ebb’s The Act, featuring a shirtless, suspendered Tim Canali, as Liza’s secret daytime paramour - famous suspender-ography included! Two more parodies followed: Skye’s take on “Mein Herr,” about Liza’s favorite rolling chair, and a howlingly funny version of Aznavour’s “Quiet Love,” where I was momentarily fooled into believing Skye was singing the real song!
Liza then turned the show over to her special guests. First was comedian Nancy Witter, who had us in stitches with tales of the horrors of Spanx, her yoga class miseries, and her alcoholic Irish Catholic family - she told us her mother drank all through her pregnancy, so technically, Nancy had her first White Russian at 4 hours old, when she breastfed!
Next, from their MAC Award-winning show, Lee Squared, were Chuck Sweeney, as Peggy Lee, who gave us all “Fever,” and David Maiocco, as Liberace, who performed the glittering pianist’s famous “Boogie Woogie.” Together, they then gave us a wonderfully silly medley of current hits, just to prove they were still relevant - you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Liberace and Peg sing “Uptown Funk!”
Liza wrapped up the evening with a medley of “Cabaret/Over the Rainbow,” and her biggest hit, “New York, New York,” and the audience gave Skye and his guests a well-deserved standing ovation!
Skye, who sings with his own voice, doesn’t do a pitch-perfect impression of Minnelli, but what he does do, brilliantly, is capture her phrasing, her vocal and physical mannerisms, and her style. He gives audiences the essence of Liza, with a sly wink and lots of respect. It’s really something to see! Here’s hoping Bazazz: A Sequined Variety has a good long run!
Bazazz has two performances in December - December 29th features the brilliant actor, singer, songwriter, and comic Rick Crom and celebrated pop & jazz vocalist Karen Wyman. On New Year’s Eve, Bazazz welcomes comedian Nancy Witter and sultry performer Billy Lykken.
For more information, go to www.donttellmamanyc.com
Amy Wolk: Hungry Like the Wolk - at The Duplex
Amy Wolk hadn’t done a cabaret show in 6 years, but Hungry Like the Wolk proved she hasn’t lost her touch! This lady can sing. She can make you laugh. She can move you with a gorgeous ballad. And she does it all with an effortlessness that’s remarkable.
Taking the stage in a glittering pair of Wonder Woman heels, it was clear she was comfortable and confident. Her opening medley of “Sensation,” from The Who’s Tommy, and Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf,” or in this case, the Wolk she sounded terrific, supported beautifully by Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins’ clever arrangement. Wolk then transitioned easily from rock to a country & western vibe with Phil Vassar’s “I’m Alright.” After a brief bit of patter about being overworked, she gave us a jazzy medley of The B52’s “Roam,” and Janet Jackson’s “Escapade.” In each case, her high, brassy mezzo suited the material perfectly.
Wolk, who is, among other things, a backstage tutor for Broadway show kids, then told us of her ambition to help the world by teaching music to children. Her backup singers brought her a guitar and gathered around her, Maria Von Trapp-style, where she taught them a very funny self-penned song about how women should react if their boyfriends quote Liza and love Madonna and the Golden Girls.
In two of the quieter numbers, Scandal’s “Goodbye To You,” once a peppy ’80’s hit, was here arranged as a ballad, with lovely arco work on the bass, and Adele’s “When We Were Young,” was delivered simply and straightforwardly - no flashy vocal tricks, just pure, honest emotion. With a touch of Kate Bush in her voice, Amy made these moments subtle and moving.
Some of the biggest laughs of the evening revolved around another of Amy’s projects: her YouTube series, Amy’s Lyric School, where she hilariously breaks down bad grammar in pop songs and even Broadway standards. Some of her targets: Jerry Herman’s lyric from Hello Dolly, ‘...strut down the street and have your picture took.’ TOOK?! Or the passage from “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” where Paul Anka sings, ‘...put your lips next to mine, dear/Won’t you kiss me once, Baby.’ Wolk shrieked ‘If you put your lips NEXT to someone’s, that’s NOT KISSING! You’re doing it WRONG!’ And with Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded,” she pointed out that ‘ALL mammals are hot blooded! It’s NOT a big DEAL!’
As the evening wound down, Wolk explained the reason behind her 6-year absence - a good friend of hers, a bartender who was her sounding board, had died suddenly, leaving her without his counsel. In tribute to him, she gave us a lovely “One For My Baby.” Wolk closed out the night on a positive, hopeful note, with Kesha’s “Learn to Let Go,” letting us know that she’s shrugging off negativity and moving forward.
I had a wonderful time at Hungry Like the Wolk. Amy’s performance is certainly winning, Lennie Watts’ economical direction kept things simple, allowing the real Amy to shine through, the backup harmonies, arranged by Steven Ray Watkins, gave the songs beautiful texture, and the band was restrained, never overpowering the vocals. Kudos also to tech director Thomas Honeck for balancing the sound so nicely.
Amy hopes to bring the show back to the Duplex early next year, but in the meantime, if you happen to catch her at a Broadway theater selling show merchandise, for God’s sake, don’t tell her what “activities” you plan to indulge in with that Phantom mask! You’ll end up in her next show!
