CHICAGO - MIDWEST CABARET REVIEWS

SIMPLY EDIE at DAVENPORT'S

Reviewed by Carla Gordon

At 6', 4", Edie, who is known by that brief moniker only, personifies the phrase "legs for days". Is she a dancer who sings? Or is she a comedienne who dances? She's definitely a feisty cabaret singer who happens to move like a long-necked gazelle. Edie is all of these.

Although she is a sassy vocalist, dance figures most prominently in Edie's performances. Her high-kicking dance style is reminiscent of Juliet Prowse with a large pinch of Fosse. Her opening number, Dancing in the Streets, set the tone for the evening. From her initial entrance wearing the first of the evening's several micro, micro mini dresses with the sequined bangles, we can tell that the era of go-go has not quite yet ended.

A good part of the fun of an Edie show is the shmooze with the audience. Going through official mottoes of several states, Edie took delight in relating to us her own origins in Oregon; the "Beaver State." Edie delivers a double take with impeccable timing and finesse, which only adds to the hilarity of her double entendre dialogue. While savoring lady-like sips of her "Edie-tini," Edie writes an outrageous postcard to an audience member's mother explaining her son's sexual preferences and her own talents. The audience at Davenport's howled.

Edie's musical material includes familiar tunes, for example, Bye Bye Blackbird, as well as original ones. Composer Hank Bones has written music that reflects Edie's persona to a T. A show highlight is a song about how Edie swept Paris:

The city of lights treats a girl just right
Parisians are lovers not fighters
Only smoking rates higher than love in Paris
They should call it the city of lighters."

The line, "I even made a Frenchman take a shower!" brought down the house.

In dialogue, Edie has a certain appealing vulnerability that connects audiences to her. I'd like to see her apply that in a vocal number or two. It would be good for her to find at least one moment in Simply Edie for a quiet moment reflected in a song.

Simply Edie relies on vocal tracks rather than live accompaniment. For the most part, it works effectively, even adding a chorus to the party. At times, however, the technical challenges of coordinating vocalist and the next CD track were apparent. Trouper that she is, Edie, made us laugh at those moments, all the while instructing the evening's sound man, (whom she addressed as "Pumpkin,") on how to straighten it all out.

Before ending this review, it would be appropriate to add one last detail about Edie. She was born a guy; Christopher Kenney, in fact. Among other honors, she's been voted Drag Queen of the Year and Provincetown's Entertainer of the Year. However, the transsexual aspect of Simply Edie is only one aspect of the fun. Simply Edie outshines the usual drag show. What sparkles in Simply Edie is the versatile talent of its namesake. The singing is real, the dialogue is spontaneous and the dancing exceptional. Google "Simply Edie" to find out when she is performing near you. See her show and she'll become the Adam's apple of your eye.

DAVENPORT'S is located at 1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/

Copyright, 2005 by Carla Gordon

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