From Uptown Funk to Double Standards
I woke up dreaming of my mom making grilled cheese sandwiches. With every bite, butter would dribble down my face, over my hands. Clearly, I am missing fat in my life and feel some baked spaghetti coming on!
Chris Lopez has done it again. He took a tribute show and boosted it to fantasy standards with his signature terrific videos, superb lighting work with Lucero, and costumes that are right on the mark. The Bruno Mars Tribute, at Coco Cabaret, stars Victor do Espirito, who has never danced onstage until now, and did a splendid job of keeping up with the Starboys. Impressive moves, and I think he has been fooling us all these years because he was so perfectly comfortable covering the stage!
Victor shares a great deal with Bruno Mars, the voice aside, which is exactly right on. They both have wide open smiles and eyes that flash with the joy of singing, with a hint of rascality. All of Bruno Mars’ hits are included in this fast-paced, stellar production, including ”The Lazy Song” (which I am adopting as my personal anthem in roughly 72 hours; I just need a couple of apes!), the syncopated ”That’s What I Like”, and the great, retro hit, ”Uptown Funk”, which is impossible to hear and not dance to. A splashy, loud, rhythmic show that fairly bursts with talent and energy. I can’t wait to see it again.
On the opposite side of the spectrum and equally as worthy is Double Standards at the Casa Karma Red Room at Act2PV. In a city awash in tribute shows, it was a refreshing change to sit and hear songs I had never heard before, sung by two seasoned professionals who clearly love what they do and have spent their lives honing their craft and harmonies to perfection. With Michael Ferreri as their Musical Director, his easy touch on the piano created an hour+ of musical theater songs woven with snippets of family life, tackling a few hard topics, but the underlying joy was unmistakable.
Baritone Tony Oakley was delightful to watch onstage. He bears some serious resemblance to Sean Connery, with an extremely happy exterior that can only mean he is doing what he loves, and he does it well. His partner onstage and friend since college, tenor John Carden, proved to be an honorable counterpoint that spilled over into a number of their songs, particularly those from ”The Bridges of Madison County.” Lovely.
There is only one more chance to see this intimate cabaret unfold on Saturday, January 03, at 7 pm, at the Casa Karma Red Room.
I am sure half the city will be at Teatro Vallarta tonight to see the debut of CelloVoci in that venue. A full report in the morning!
Don’t forget the Gay Mixer tomorrow at Cheeky Pool Club at 6 pm. After that, find me at Nacho Daddy for Open Mic. That starts at 7:30 pm, From Here.
