Joan Curto, Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael: A Fine Romance
Joan Curto, Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael
A Fine Romance
The Estate at Gene and Georgetti, Rosemont, IL, February 14, 2016
Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes
Tom Michael, Beckie Menzie, Joan Curto
On Valentine’s Day, three of Chicago’s top-shelf cabaret artists—Joan Curto, Beckie Menzie (musical director) and Tom Michael—joined forces to present A Fine Romance. Musical highlights included Curto channeling Marlene Dietrich in Cole Porter’s “The Laziest Gal in Town” and a beautifully delivered “So in Love. Michael’s “Two for the Road” was reflective, wistful and brought the show’s most tender moment. Menzie and Michael’s duet of Camille West’s “Viagra in the Water” provided much needed laughter. While their pairing of “Moondance” and “Moonglow” is lovely, it is the blending of “Time After Time” (lyrics by Sammy Cahn, music by Jule Styne) with Cyndi Lauper/Rob Hyman’s “Time After Time” that truly dazzles. The arrangement seamlessly interweaves the 1947-released Cahn/Styne song with Lauper/Hyman’s 1984 hit. The latter’s lyrics encompass a certain darkness while the former’s are breezier. This gives the journey of this pairing compelling movements from dark to light.
This was a first-time public cabaret event at the Estate at Gene and Georgetti. The Estate’s ballroom can hold several hundred audience members, who were seated at tables, each holding a chilled bottle of bubbly. (The event also provided an optional dinner arrangement at Gene and Georgetti’s; many attendees participated.) Curto, Menzie and Michael managed to transform The Estate’s ballroom into a cozy cabaret space. Kudos to producers Denise McGowan and Michelle Durpetti, not only for producing a classy and festive event, but also for identifying a new Chicagoland cabaret venue. At one particular moment, cast members asked audience members to sing along, then asked a young man seated ringside to come onstage and sing. While he seemed reluctant, Tom Michael somehow managed to coax the young man to do so. He then said that while he preferred not to sing, he did have something to “say.” The young then called his sweetheart to join him on the stage, dropped to one knee, offered a ring and proposed. It was Valentine’s Day. Who could ask for anything more?
Category: Cabaret Reviews, Chicago, Chicago Cabaret Reviews, Regional
