Ain’t Misbehavin’
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Music by Fats Waller
Conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz
Directed by John Cantù
Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando FL</strong>
Like so many great bluesmen Fats Waller started out in a religious household, learned some chops on a grand church organ, and went on to write some of the most deliciously sinful music of the 20th century. His specialty was Stride Piano; the left hand pumped rhythm while his right did melodies. The result was a juke full of people dancing and drinking and generally working up for a good Sunday morn confession. There’s no real story here, jut a great selection of Waller’s material acted out like life-sized music videos. Audience members were seated on stage, one told me she was impressed by the amount of airborne saliva visible that no one in the regular seats saw. Or felt.
But what we did see was impressive, from the opening ensemble “Ain’t Misbehaving” to the winks and a nod closer “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie.” Shonn McCloud and Monique Midgette (best stage name EVER) did a delightful “Honey Suckle Rose”; she returned later with a show stopping “I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling.” Clinton Harris later joined up with Shonn for the impressive “Ladies Who Sing With the Band” and the low down “Fat and Greasy.” Shonn hit his high point with “The Viper Drag” and if this song doesn’t legalize it, nothing will. “Mimi” Fanaè led us the nearly forgotten “When Nylons Bloom Again”. It’s a bit anachronistic as this show was set in 1930 and nylon wasn’t introduced until 1939. Ah, The Wiki – spoiling dreams again and again. Lastly I’ll mention Shauna Alexander’s great duet with Monique: “Find out What They Like” is the sort of sexist advice that actually might buy a woman some long term piece of mind. Behind this powerful quintet was a live band, and while dressed for the era and soundly professional they kept flat expressions and and did theikr job and their only bit of fun was a possibly impromptu vocal near intermission. This is a high energy, low down sexy entertainment, perfect for these hot Florida summer nights.
For more information on Mad Cow, please visit http://www.madcowtheatre.com
