Macabaret

Music and Lyrics by Robert Hartman & Scott Keys

Directed by Matthew Gunnels

Music Direction by Steven Sivak

Produced by Porchlight Musical Theatre

At The Theatre Building Chicago

1225 W. Belmont Ave

Chicago, IL

Call 773-327-5252, tickets $18 - $20

Saturdays at 10:30 PM

Sundays at 6:30

Monday, October 31 at 8 PM

Macabaret is slick, ghoulish fun

Macabaret premiered with Porchlight in 1995 and has been revived several times. This is an outstanding show; clever, campy and marvelously sung and staged. The best hour you’ll spend at theatre. Macaberet is Cabaret meets Rocky Horror with loads of Broadway show tunes nicely converted by the six dead folks.

This enchanting journey into a kooky and spooky morbid pokes fun at horror films, evil cows, murderous spouses, supermodels, OJ, and zombies. Macabaret sings well as the six performers delight as the dead characters.

Lead by the devilishly boyish MC, Phil Graves, played by terrific Jon Runnfeldt, we see Anita Hoffman as the blood thirsty Maude Lynn, Bil Ingraham is Paul Bear the creepy one while Erin Mosher is Donna Shroud and Erin Myover is Victoria Bledsoe. This cast lands their songs with rich harmonies and slick biting satire. You’d be hard pressed to hear better singers and more clever arrangements. The 60 minutes revue rolls by smoothly. Steve Sivak’s piano work and arrangements were well crafted.

Featuring songs like “Grave Mistake,” Dr. Kevorkian,” Ghost of A Chance,” Zombie-riffic” and “Blood Type,” you get the feeling that you’re in a mortuary seeing a cabaret show. This is a fun, well sung Halloween treat without the tricks. Kudos to Porchlight Music Theatre’s excellent production values.

Thanks to the talented Bil Ingraham for coaxing me to see this show. It sure is fun.

Highly Recommended

Tom Williams

Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments

Chicago Stage Talk Radio Show

This show is eligible for a C.S.T. Equity Theatre Award

September 18, 2005