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Mark
Nadler: Russian on the Side (thru
6/15)
In our Ipod age, variety performers, especially good ones, are rare. Singer/pianist/arranger and “dancer” Mark Nadler is extraordinary. In Russian on the Side, (through June 15 at the Royal George Theater, 1642 North Halsted Street), cabaret award winner Nadler shines at a smorgasbord of entertainment skills.
Nadler has been
justifiably likened to the late Danny Kaye.
Russians revolves around the
patter song “Tschaikowsky and Other Russians” by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin. It contains the tongue-twisting names of
nearly 50 Russian composers and was a signature tune of Kaye’s. Nadler assures audience members that they
will be able to sing the tune by the show’s end. What follows is exploration of the composers
listed in the song. Some, like Igor
Stravinski, achieved fame . Others do not. Nadler’s explanation of why is both
fascinating and dear. Sometimes, those
less talented become famous through scandal. Sometimes, those quite talented simply go
unsung (forgive the pun). Nadler
wistfully expresses appreciation for the latter and in this celebrity-rehab-in-the-headlines
culture, we get it.
He offers another Kaye
signature tune with “The Ugly Duckling” by Frank Loesser (from the film Hans Christian Andersen). He finds levels of pathos that Kaye never did
(perhaps considering the film children’s entertainment). While Kaye, who was married and fathered a
daughter, is today recognized by many as a gay man, his was not a time when
openly gay entertainers were readily accepted.
Nadler, in his introduction to the song, shares his own “outsider” story
of growing up in Iowa -- gay, Jewish, and the son of immigrants. The duckling’s peer rejection (“Quack! Get
out of town!”) is no fairy tale in Nadler’s hands. As we
listen to Nadler reveal the duckling’s ultimate recognition of himself as a beautiful
swan, we simultaneously appreciate Nadler’s self-recognition --- as well as,
perhaps, our own. This portion of Russian on the Side provides much needed
quiet reflection and personal connection in a show that hungers for even more
of it.
Nadler sings beautifully,
moves like a gazelle, and he’s funny. He
knocks out a vaudeville-esque “dance”while playing the piano. The “Prokophylactic” line is a hoot. Singer/pianists face the challenge of
becoming stuck behind the keyboard. He
overcomes this challenge in delightful ways: he stands on the piano, sits
Indian style on the lid, and even slithers across it on his belly.
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Pick of the week
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Calling all icon-lovers and cabaret devotees!!
Recommended: A major cabaret event on Thursday honoring two icons who graced The Town Hall in a landmark concert 45 years ago....and the next day starts a three-dayweekend full of FREE cabaret events, some of which salute legends, too. This week’s PICK is a double dip because these late-week back-to-back events are very special ones indeed. They are also obvious choices in my mind because, when asked, I always suggest that a busy person or a newcomer to cabaret go to an event with a large number of performers to get exposed to many in one night. And if the ticket money goes to a non-profit organization promoting cabaret, it’s another good reason! Speaking of money, who doesn’t appreciate a free cabaret event --- or a weekend cavalcade of ‘em?
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