Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael: It’s About Time

Carla Gordon | May 30, 2015

Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael

It’s About Time

Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, April 4, 2015

Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes

Continuing their history of sold-out runs at Davenport’s with It’s About Time, Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael offer their most thoughtful show to date. Time is a meaty subject and the duo explore it in depth. Musically, its best moment comes with a pairing of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” and Sammy Cahn/Jule Styne’s song with the same title written decades before. Each song floats seamlessly and beautifully into the other both in terms of message and music. There is also fun and funny in the notion of time, which is exemplified in “Plastic Surgery,” a goofy parody to “Defying Gravity,” making the case that the procedures are hardly worth the money or the consequences. Outstanding solo numbers include Menzie’s “Morning Person” (Cheryl Coons and Chuck Larkin), about the irritatingly overachieving morning person, and her smart, understated delivery of “You Learn” (Alanis Morissette/Glen Ballard). Michael is stunning in “I Will Wait for You” (Norman Gimbel/Michel Legrand). If you can, see It’s About Time. Don’t be late, or you’ll miss a lovely show.