Tom Orr – Goes Where No Man Has Gone Before!; Awake and Sing! – “Fierce Cruelty and Redeeming Love”; Steven Brinberg / Julie Wilson at Rrazz

by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave, 2009-09-04

TOM ORR – ‘YOU BAD’

You know him. He’s the musical Comedy Cabaret Porn Star that gave us the hit show ‘I Feel a Thong coming on!’ Now, he even goes beyond outrageous – Orr is even more titillating in his new show “A Crass Act.” Orr, this time out, lets everything hang out. And I mean EVERYTHING.

It is an amazing feat to watch it swing around. Perhaps he was handled by a Fluffer backstage. I know that plenty of people in the audience would gladly take on the job of keeping it bouncing around.

Orr takes us on a fascinating trip. He’s like Alice in Wonderland – no one knows where he will end up next. And the word ‘End Up’ tells us all that we need to know.

Orr takes good old standards and sings them with new lyrics. He skewers them with his lacerating wit. The whole evening is just truly smart, funny and true to life. And of course Orr knows just how to make those lyrics a popcorn adventure.

Orr blazes through this show and doesn’t let up. His sharp-edged patter is wickedly funny. And when he sings, “Love for Sale -- Michael Jackson’s White Glove for Sale” – you know that he means it. Instead of “Take Back your Mink” from Guys and Dolls – it becomes “Take Back Your Kink!”

Andrea Marcovecci said to him at a New York Cabaret “Good Night my little scene stealing Whore!” Orr is sensationally entertaining! You’ll definitely want to stand up and cheer” – and possibly show him yours while you stand up and cheer!

Orr has Charisma and the Balls to “Go where no man in front of an audience has gone before.” “We know that, because we have seen the BALLS!”

PUT ‘TOM ORR’ FIRST ON YOUR LIST! SPECTACULAR FUN EVENING!

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-

At The New Conservatory Theater Center

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and produced a long-running Årts Segment on PBS KQED)))


Rod Gnapp and Ellen Ratner in "Awake and Sing." Photo by David Ållen.

AWAKE AND SING! GALVANIC PERFORMANCES!

AURORA THEATRE’S GRIPPING ‘AWAKE AND SING!’

In this fascinating portrait in the Depression era we visit a Bronx Jewish family that has a Mother Dearest as the head matriarch. Wow! Is she tough! Her husband Myron is a Mr. Milk Toast – who doesn’t say much. And why bother, when Bessie, his wife will just knock the wind out of his sails.

Her Father, Jacob is a dreamer and a charmer. He observes, knows what is going on – but trys to avoid the entire family trauma.

Bessie (Mom) has two children. There is Ralph, who is discontented with his life. He meets a girl that he likes, but Mom makes sure it doesn’t happen. She wants Ralph to meet someone who has value (Money). That’s what it is all about during the depression. They also have a daughter (Hennie). Mom Dearest picks out a substantial man for her to date. They have a child – but the daughter doesn’t love him. Yes, he has a good job and a little money. Soon however – Hennie will run away with a border at the house (Moe).

The family gets a lot of help from Mom’s Brother, who is in the Garment business. And he is always looking for deals to make more. An opportunity arises when one of the family members dies and a Will is changed to benefit Bessie. Hey, Money is Money.

It gets messier. The Daughter and Moe fall in love. She leaves her husband and her Mother is not happy about that. Moe gets a stipend from the Army for the Leg he lost during the war. He is not thrilled with the amount that he gets. But, he does have some money – and this family is all about Money and how to get it. Love and kindness never enters the door.

THE ACTORS: Rob Gnapp: One of the most inventive and exciting actors in the Bay -- and probably the world, plays Moe. Charles Dean plays Bessie’s Father. Dean has the gaze and look of a man who is growing weary of all the bickering. He’s wise and he plays his cards close to the chest. He’s mesmerizing!

Ellen Ratner plays Bessie. What a performer. Magnificent! Patrick Russell plays Ralph, the son. Russell has us rooting for him. His performance is honest and true and unforgettable!’

Also Sensational are Victor Talmadge, Rebecca White, Anthony Nemirovsky. All gave remarkable haunting performances.

You Don’t Want to Miss!


Julie Wilson at Rrazz Room.

STEVEN BRINBERG AS BARBRA STREISAND, JULIE WILSON AS JULIE WILSON

UNDER THE SOFT LIGHTING JULIE WILSON STILL HAS THE AUDIENCE IN HER PALM

‘I’M GONNA LIVE ‘TIL I DIE’ AND ‘I’M NOT DEAD YET” ARE TWO OF THE OPENING SONGS. Making light of her 85 years – she has fun with the lyrics like “No need to call the Doctor or The Vet” and “I’m Gonna ask this Old Dame – is she still in the game.”

Å warmth of applause swept over the stage. Wilson amped up the beat with “The Lady Is Å Tramp” from Babes in Arms. And for her age – she still gets into the groove. You know what – she just came back from Australia with Steven Brinberg after she did the show there.

Lots of fun was a song that was cut out of Sondheim’s Follies – “Çan That Boy Foxtrot?” Then she coolly sang the fantastically wonderful “But Beautiful” here a few words.

“Intimate love is tearful
It’s a heartache
Either way, I’ll never let you go.”

Also really enjoyed Surabaya Johnny. It’s sad and touching, but Gorgeous. Julie Wilson ended the set with “No Business Like Show Business with Brinberg (Streisand).

Wilson is a living legend. Her voice may not be a strong as it was once. But then, neither was Sinatra’s in his later years. Her individuality comes through the lyrics of these marvelous classics. To her, each song is a celebration that we can all enjoy.

Her Tender and sensitive delivery is right on the mark. Her selection of the songs in this appearance at the Rrazz Room is peerless.

From the song “Here’s to Life” Julie really brings into focus what it is all about:

“Here’s to Life
Time Just Flys
Warm Hello’s
And Sad Goodbyes
As long as I’m still in the game
I want to play”

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE IS DOING AT THE RRAZZ ROOM THROUGH SUNDAY.

STEVEN BRINBERG IS SIMPLY BARBRA

BRINBERG actually opens the evening. Before he comes up on the stage he sings from the back of the room. “Let’s Hear It For Me” by Kander and Ebb. You would swear that Striesand herself had just arrived. It was amazing.

I especially enjoyed “The Way We Weren’t” and “The Way We Were”. Different lyrics – same song. That was not that unusual, many songwriters changed the lyrics as time went on. Or for different musicals.

Brinberg really wowed the audience with the Fanny Brice song, “If I Love Ågain” and the great and fabulous Follies song “I’m Still Here.” And of course – he sings what I think is Streisand biggest hit “People”.

But my all time favorite is the fabulous rendition of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.” Brinberg sings both parts as Barbra and Neil Diamond. It’s amazing – sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde only I don’t believe that they sing.

And here is a really wonderful plus. Brinberg does one song where is he sings in the style of numerous celebrities. It was absolutely Brilliant!

He introduces Julie’s entrance at the end of his part of the show. They sing “Old Friends” – and they must be, to travel all the way from Australia to come to SF.

THIS SHOW HAS A LOT OF CHARM AND HEART – IT’S PROFOUNDLY MOVING!

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (Highest rating) –trademarked-

http://www.therrazzroom.com/

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