What's the Point?!

There are few original musical revues out there these days- the most recent one I can think of off the top of my head is Closer Than Ever, and that premiered in 1989.  Hector Coris (lyrics, performer) and Alan Cancelino (music) attempt a revival of this venerable tradition with their show What's the Point?!.  Coris is no stranger to the form, having won several awards for his previous effort, What's Your Problem?.

The show is very cute, satirizing modern-day issues, beginning with Coris as a vampire imploring bad songwriters not to writ e any more musicals about his people.  Other targets covered in the evening include: hard-to-use technology, telenovelas, over-doting parents, straight guys, gay animals, masturbation, e-harmony's homophobic policies, the "dirty sanchez", and American Idol.  Most of these are easy targets, sometimes the songs are one-joke affairs, and the evening often tends more toward "poking fun" than actual "satire", but the fun that is poked is very fun indeed.

The music by Alan Cancelino is consistently peppy, with a few dips into amusing pastiche, like the Wildhorny "My Moment" (the American Idol number), and the Zorro-style ballad "Dirty Sanchez".  

The 3 member cast are all delightful in different ways- Mr. Coris is a gifted comic- his cowboy shtick on the down-home "How Can I Miss You (If You Won't Go Away)?" is delightful.  The handsome Patrick Garrigan is the best dancer of the trio, and really shines in the hilarious "A Straight Guy in a Gay Show", where he minces all over the stage all the while proclaiming his (apparently genuine) heterosexuality.  Eadie Scott is the kind of ballsy dame with a great voice that homos love, and though it seems she doesn't have as much to do as the boys, she knocks her songs out of the park when they come her way, she's especially funny as The Little Mermaid in "Legs". All three execute Susan Haefner's delightful choreography with aplomb.

Joe Regan plays piano flawlessly, sometimes interjecting comments of his own, and singing along for the cowboy harmonies.

Overall, it's an enjoyable hour of entertaining songs. 

What's the Point?!

Performances are every Monday night at 7:00PM through March 31st at
The Reprise Room (245 West 54 Street, NYC – http://www.dillonslounge.com.)

Tickets are $15 plus a $15 food/drink minimum and are available through the show's website at www.WTPOINT.com. Tickets must be purchased in advance through the show's website. Tickets may also be paid in cash at the door. Reservations may also be made on the website or by calling (347) 678-8054.

A full dinner menu is available for pre-show dining.

Photo Credit: George Byron Griffiths

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