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Front Row Centre reviews MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME

By: Jun. 18, 2006
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Built as self-reverential tongue-in-cheek tribute, the production includes more than a few sly jabs at Elaine Stritch's AT LIBERTY as well as other "story-of-my-life" theatrical events. Trouble is that Short doesn't have Stritch's baggage. It quickly becomes apparent that there is little tabloid-headline-grabbing drama in his life, but Short along with Daniel Goldfarb have concocted a book of sorts that serves as a loose framework for the comic to weave in many of his stock characters, as well as burlesques of standard Broadway-style numbers.

The score whipped up by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman is full of clever pastiches and loaded with subversive lyrics that whiz by so quickly you barely have time to catch your breath. Included are a Judy Garland parody (played with hilarious accuracy by Mary Birdsong), a riff on Sondheim's COMPANY and a climatic number appropriately titled "Stop the Show" that does just that as delivered by Capathia Jenkins.

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Ms. Jenkins is a force to reckon with. She opens up that big voice of hers and blows away Nell Carter, Jennifer Holiday and Lilias White all in on breath. She also knows how to play the broad comedy shtick in the early scenes.

Also adding to the on-stage fun Marc Shaiman provides a perfect foil for the star, while pianist and conductor Charles Alterman keeps the FAME BECOMES ME orchestra in perfect balance so that we can savour Wittman & Shaimain's lyrics. Larry Blank's nifty orchestrations sound big and bold and brassy even as played by the skimpy nine-piece band.

The ensemble of Brooks Ashmanskas, Nicole Parker and Mary Birdsong take on a variety of roles including dead-on lampoons of Joan Rivers, Celine Dion, Bob Fosse and even Tommy Tune. They are aided by Jess Goldstein's costumes, which can make a broad statement quickly. Also of note in the design department are Scott Pask's sets, which serve the jokes well.

The best joke of the evening was the unbilled guest star. Opening night it was Ben Mulroney who happily played along with the slapstick and even tried to dance a bit. I doubt we will see him on stage with the Rockettes anytime soon, but his fumbling clumsiness just added to the fun.

Best of all, FAME BECOMES ME offers up Martin Short doing what he does best: making people laugh.

Martin Short: FAME BECOMES ME plays at the Canon theatre through July 2nd, and will then move to Chicago at the LaSalle Bank Theatre July 5-16. It will arrive on Broadway at the Jacobs Theatre on July 22. Tickets for the Toronto engagement are available at www.mirvish.com or by calling Ticketking at 1-800-461-3333.



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