CABARET REBOB
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The varied performers include folksinger Chris Farrell, performance artist Betsy Walton, Russ Flack, Karol Kent, and Paul Raci of the Friends of the Zoo, and comic Peter Burns of the maybe sleeping, maybe defunct Willow Street Carnival. And there can’t be many small cabarets that have their own six-member rock-jazz band–International Fingers, led by the show’s musical director, Domenic Bucci, on the guitar.
But all the talent in Chicago can’t help the fact that the material in Cabaret Rebob’s 20-some acts, as in many variety shows, ranges from the outstanding to the simply dreadful. The show’s many serious musical numbers are, without exception, wonderful. Among the best: Chris Farrell’s sweet folk song “My Circus Days,” Max Stein’s highly polished “As Time Goes By,” and Russ Flack’s wonderfully original version of Cab Calloway’s signature song, “Minnie the Moocher.”
Almost as bad is Peter Burns’s running gag about Pete’s corner. From time to time during the show, Riley checks in with Peter Burns, who sits with his wife in Pete’s corner, a mock-up of a typical Chicago prole’s living room that’s set up along one wall. Riley asks Burns David Letterman-style questions, like: “Well, Pete, how is the show going so far?” To which Burns is supposed to improvise some sarcastic answer in the manner of Chris Elliot. Unfortunately, on the night I saw the show, Burns was clearly distracted by the presence of Norman Mark, and a good 50 percent of his time was spent telling mildly insulting, mildly flattering jokes about Mark. There is nothing less funny than a comedian trying to at once tell jokes and kiss a critic’s ass.
