Mario Cantone's Laugh Whore gives us the hyperkinetic whirlwind spouting observational humor at full blast - he sings, he dances, he jests. His absurd impressions of Shelley Winters, Cher, Tina Turner, Kate Smith (who remembers her?), LL Cool J, Carol Channing, Katharine Hepburn, Elvis, Ann Margaret, Liza, and others keep the audience laughing. And that's only Act One. Act Two is his takeoff on his family, and he is vivid as he portrays relatives and their foibles and mannerisms. Plus Judy Garland!
Cantone is an energy storm with a great physicality, filling the theater with his presence, as snappily directed by Joe Manatello. Add an imaginative set by Robert Brill and lighting by Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, and it's an evening of bold, outrageous fun.
Previews:
October 12, 2004
Opened:
October 24, 2004
Ended:
January 2, 2005
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Showtime Networks. Assoc Prod: Jonathan Burkhart
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
Cort Theater
Theater Address:
138 West 48th Street
Running Time:
2 hrs, 15 min
Genre:
Standup Comedy
Director:
Joe Mantello
Review:
Parental:
strong profanity
Cast:
Mario Cantone
Technical:
Music: Jerry Dixon; Lyrics: Dixon, Cantone & Harold Lubin. Orchestr/Music Dir: Tom Kitt. Arr: Jerry Dixon & Tom Kitt; Set: Robert Brill; Light: Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhower; Sound: Tony Meola.
Other Critics:
TOTALTHEATER David Lefkowitz +
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
December 2004
