THEATRICAL ENDING ...

Our Milwaukee Rep season opened with the American Premiere Songs for Nobodies, a powerful one woman show performed by Bethany Thomas who does an amazing job belting out 5 diverse divas and 5 every day women (nobodies) affected by the divas's music/life stories accompanied by piano and cello. Impressive to say the least...  Timely, emotional and poignant.

The 10 characters portrayed include diva legends Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas. The accents and musical styles are as varied as the 10 characters themselves including dialects from a newly separated bathroom attendant, southern usher, bilingual Brit, an East coast newspaper columnist, and a cruise ship nanny with a brogue. Thomas flawlessly transitions through the characters with Torch songs, Gospel, Country, Blues and Opera and script. Kudos Ms. Thomas.

A musical was a perfect ending to our fall weekend get away.

The play was performed in the newly remodeled Stackner Cabaret with a much better sound system, lighting and furnishings. Tastefully decorated albeit with some logistical issues for those needing to alleviate themselves during the performance. The levels of table seatings are also not ideal for shorter patrons (yours truly) but fortunately a rear bar stool table was available and we could move for a better vantage.

A couple opening snafus which can be corrected included timely beverage/food service and their payment, door noise/ foyer light from theater's entrance, patrons' bathroom noise during performance with a continuous up and down during the non intermission 1 1/2 hour performance. A simple announcement pre presentation announcement could alleviate some of these. It was a shame that both patrons and especially the artist had to deal with this commotion. 

For a sampling of the wonderful music, click below for You Tube's clip of:SONGS FOR NOBODIES