DESTRY RIDES AGAIN IS HIGH CAMP FUN

This is a classic Western treat that will put you back in the saddle again. A new cowboy rides into this corrupted hick town on a dusty road. The Cowboy is a down-to-earth, very laid-back kind of guy. His name is Destry. Shucks, he doesn’t even wear a gun on his belt. The new Sheriff has brought Destry in to help clean up the town, where a former Sheriff has disappeared.

Suspicions are rampant among the town’s folk. They suspect foul play in the town of “Bottleneck”. The new Deputy, Destry is a simple, humble man who believes that his low key drawls will calm the bad boys. He came here to uncover crooked and shady dealing – and Destry does just that. Most of all – he is convinced that someone did the previous Sheriff in.

This is a fun, wonderfully staged musical that has some terrific light comedy through out. Destry has a lot of twists that keep things interesting. Steve Rhyne (Tom Destry) reminds me of the Aw-shucks performance that Don Murray played in the movie Bus Stop. Connie Champagne – the tough Bar Room singer and Bar Fly, keeps us guessing about where her loyalties are. Is she on the side of the Bad Guys, or does she love the new Deputy Sheriff? It’s all in songs.

There are lots of funny lines in the show. Here’s one: “Did you have to kill him?” Answer: “How else could I get him to die?”
Andrew Boyer (Sheriff Wash) is just terrifc. He is just so endearing. Steve Rhyne (Tom Destry) comes across like matinee idol Gary Cooper. His cool and collected persona charms the patrons of the Bar right off their bar stools.

Tom Orr who usually is seen with no clothes (but not this time) plays the riotous Sheriff Keogh, and Jack Tyndall -- Kicks dirt! If this were the old days of Talent Scouts -- Orr would be on his way to Hollywood – Horse and all.

The entire cast – Michael Cassidy, Robbie Cowan, Cindy Goldfield, Coley Grundman (Mayor Slade), Lisa Hensley, Erin Hoffman, Alex Shafer, Ernie Tovar, Jeremy Vik, Rana Weber and Wendell H. Wilson all gave us a wonderful evening that was both Outrageous and uproariously funny!

The Direction by Dianna Shuster was exceptional. The Choreographer – Tom Segal, kept the action moving without giving the cast whiplash. There are some pretty amazing acrobatics on that stage that are on a par with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

AT 42nd MOON THEATER (Eureka Theatre Stage)

RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-

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


Ashton and Simpson at the Rrazz Room.

ASHFORD AND SIMPSON

Boy, are they Hot in the singing department. Not only that, they still have sizzling looks. It’s been a long-time since the Motown days – but they have survived and still sound as great as ever. At their show at the Rrazz Room they did a lot of favorites and they also sang a lot of songs that they wrote for others like Diana Ross, Marvelettes, Whitney Houston and a host of others.

Throughout this outstanding musical treat, they tell us little tidbits about Barry Gordie (Motown) and what went on the first time that they met him. They also talk about how they met – and got married. “We had a dream and we both wanted it” – said Val Simpson.

The thing I really like about Nick and Val is the charm and realness of their personalities. They worked their Tushes off to bring off this show with perfect timing.

You will enjoy hearing some of their great timeless hits like “No Mountain High Enough” and “California Soul” and countless other gems. They are still fresh and thrilling.

They set the world on fire with their music in the 70’s and they still have that magic, that mystery and all that talent. All of their music is still exciting and dance floor accessible. The audience picked up on that – and got out there on the floor and wiggled their bottoms around the Cabaret Tables. Even those in their seats couldn’t sit still – they were squirming around like they were trying to get loose from their shell. Hands were waving to the music and heads were bobbing.

They are still in demand from Feinstein’s in New York to the Oprah Winfrey show (they were guests this last Thursday). They will be at the Rrazz Room thru Nov. 15. IT’S A STUNNING SHOW. And, it’ll make you ‘Feel Good!’

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

INFO: http://www.therrazzroom.com/


WING at RRazz.

WING – A SINGER WHO INTRIQUES WITH HER DIFFERENT STYLINGS

WING HANG TSANG is popularly known as “Wing” a singer of Hong Kong origin. She took up singing as a hobby when she immigrated to New Zealand. She gained more experience by entertaining patients at nursing homes and hospitals. Someone suggested that she put out a CD. She did and is still making them, and they are still selling. Wing has produced more than 16 CD’s.

She is certainly a phenomenon. She sings songs with a recorded track. Her selections range from Michael Jackson songs to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera”. What is really different about her voice is that she can take a pop song and give it an operatic twist.

Here she is in her 80’s (I’m guessing), but still has a strong voice. Some might compare her to Florence Foster Jenkins – but “Wing” does not really sing off tune. It is just different, that’s all. This is very evident on “Dancing Queen”.

You could say that she could be a contestant on the “Chinese has talent program”, if they had one. You may not know her – but you should get to know her. There is something really sweet about Wing. For instance at the end of the show, the enthusiastic audience wanted to hear more. She sweetly said – I have only the 40 tracks that you have heard. But, I can sing a couple of more for you from the same tracks. And she did – the audience just loved her. They were even waving the candles over their heads in time to the music. Wing is fascinating, marvelous and cute. It was very unusual touching evening.

RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-

INFO: http://www.therrazzroom.com/.

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