Florida Reviews

Cabaret’s opening, “Willkommen” (one of the best ever of a Broadway musical) must create the sleazy atmosphere of the 1930 Berlin club. Sean Fortunato is powerfully enticing as the Emcee. He uses the eye-popping expressions and campy style to make his Emcee the featured persona at the Klub. He welcomes us into his world. With the terrific Kit Kat Girls and the sweet Kit Kat Boys; the Kit Kat Club has a staff of deliciously sexy performers. Linda Fortunato’s opening choreography was innovative and original.

Beverly Friend Florida Reviews

Tom Williams

The Kid from Brooklyn: The Danny Kaye Story

The musical is a pastiche of Kaye on and off stage, with little in tone or
impact to differentiate between the two. The best parts include his most
famous performances of such songs as “Deenah,” “Stanislavsky, ” “Anatole
of Paris,” “Mad Dogs and Englishmen,” and “Minnie the Moocher.” His best
on-stage moment is an emotional one with wife Sylvia after discussing the
possibility of children, when they embrace and dance, tenderly and
suggestively, to “Ballin’ the Jack.”

Beverly Friend Florida Reviews REVIEWS

Tom Williams

The Bris, the Bar Mitzvah and Beyond

A praised-filled puff line in the press release proclaims that the play is
“Funnier than ‘The Producers!'” This is a stunning, unbelievable
affirmation until you read who wrote it: David Jay Bernstein’s mother!
While this is obviously intended as humor, it has a ring of truth — ONLY
A MOTHER COULD LOVE THIS PLAY.

Beverly Friend Florida Reviews REVIEWS

Tom Williams

A Jew Grows in Brooklyn 2.0

The Florida audience fulfills all these criteria and more as they respond
to versatile actor/director Jake (aka Yankel) Ehrenreich in his new play,
an update of an earlier, quite successful version, both based on his book:
“A Jew Grows in Brooklyn, The curious Reflections of a First Generation
American” (published in 2010).

Beverly Friend Florida Reviews REVIEWS

Tom Williams

Danny Kaye and Sylvia: A Musical Love Story

The “Musical Love Story,” opens slowly, when Danny (Larry Buzzeo) and his
future wife Silvia Fine (Katie Angell Thomas), meet at the audition of the
1939 “Straw Hat Review.” Fine, who had written the music and lyrics for
the show, is initially turned off by “Danny Kaminsky’s” high jinks

Beverly Friend Florida Reviews MUST SEE REVIEWS Theatre Reviews

Tom Williams

The Most Happy Fella -Florida Review

While “The Most Happy Fella” has been called “the most operatic of classic
American Musicals,” Loesser cleverly interweaves down-to-earth subjects.
Cleo soaks her tired feet in a basin of water while singing about how
painful they are, farm hands stand on a corner singing “Watching All the
Girls Go By, ” Rosebella and Tony perform a hilarious duet in “Happy to
Make your Acquaintance,” and Herman is dazzled when he learns how to make
a fist and sings a tribute to his hand.

Beverly Friend Florida Reviews REVIEWS Theatre Reviews

Tom Williams

Sweet Charity

How interesting it would be to discover how many enjoy Sweet Charity as a light, fluffy, escapist musical, while still others may be struck by a culminating moral message of independence. While this is not as unique now as it might have been when the play first opened, it has a special significance today — following the shocking election upset.. At the risk of creating a spoiler, there was something quite provocative and pertinent about Charity, standing on her own, not needing a man to provide her happiness at play’s end. It is certainly a feminist affirmation.

Beverly Friend Florida Reviews MUST SEE REVIEWS REVIEWS BY

Tom Williams