The tv newscasters warned us that anyone leaving their homes today risked frostbite but we'd gladly give up our extremities to see Lea DeLaria in anything and this event at Joe's Pub seemed particularly enticing: the Stevie Wonder songbook interpreted by talents as diverse as Michele Lee, Mary Testa, Scott Thompson ("Kids In The Hall"), Anson Mount, Michael John La Chiusa, Patina Miller...I mean, wow! Except none of them turned up.
Still, the universe works in mysterious ways, for it turned out to be a benefit concert with the proceeds going to one specific breast cancer sufferer, and who should be in the audience but PRISCILLA's divine Keala Settle with her dearest pals Jed and Michael? And who should be leaving the building as we arrived but the equally divine Tad Wilson and Jessica Phillips? So that made the trek through the icy streets worthwhile. And the show itself was very jolly, with great new arrangements and musical direction by Jeanette Mason and compered by the formidable Ms. DeLaria who began the evening with a shout of relief that the tourists had finally left New York and she no longer had to give directions to foreigners looking for MAMMA MIA!
LEGALLY BLONDE's adorable Natalie Joy Johnson (now blonde herself) belted out "Knocks Me Off My Feet" and a joy she was indeed.
and a kittenish Justin Bond asked us to imagine we were somewhere warm and sultry while he purred "My Cherie Amour".
Writer, comedienne and original cast member of SPELLING BEE Sarah Saltzberg helped Lea auction off her favourite baseball cap signed by the evening's performers (which Sheldon almost bought for $120 before being trumped at $135) then was poised to join Lea in a scat singing duet before it was revealed that she had misheard Lea's invitation over the phone and thought she was there to talk about her cats. Instead Sarah offered to translate Lea's scat singing for the audience while Lea let loose with her trademark wailing ("It is cold outside"; "Do you think President Obama dyes his hair?"; "I was freaked out by BLACK SWAN...she pulls a feather out of her back!!"; "I'm a really really great singer."). Next, the band took over for a beautiful instrumental of "All in Love is Fair" ...
then Cady Huffman began a ridiculously "white bread" version of "Uptight! Outta Sight!" before Lea returned to urge her to channel her inner black man. Cady took that to mean James Brown and let loose with renewed soul, even though her frenzied dance break included a bit of line dancing.
Glamorous husband and wife Christian Campbell and America Olivo (he of the movies "Trick" and "Reefer Madness" and she of the current "Spider Man" on Broadway) duetted on "Ribbon in the Sky" but not before Lea auctioned off one more item: a copy of PLAYBOY with Ms. Olivo on the cover (it brought $100).
A late arrival after her Broadway play, Daphne Rubin-Vega was simultaneously hilarious and sizzling hot as she took on "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" complete with Stevie's spoken intro from the INNER VISIONS album which she admitted she couldn't comprehend. Her stream of consciousness patter throughout the number was wildly funny especially as she was singing in a key that was evidently way too low for her and she became hopelessly lost trying to find her way back to the tune after the band break.
Like all the women on the bill she flirted outrageously with Lea, who merely shrugged and commented "I lead a charmed life" before launching into the finale, a full company rendition of "Superstition" while the cast circulated among the audience with collection buckets. It was then that we discovered that the event was in aid of America Olivo's sister who is scheduled for a double mastectomy very soon. So, a great big-hearted evening for a great cause. And we made it home with all extremities intact.
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