Brandon Judell
'Bread and Gravy'
Musical direction by Ross Patterson.
Helen's, 169 Eighth Avenue @ 19th Street.
212-206-0609
Opened May 5, 2005
Reviewed by Brandon Judell May 12, 2005
All shows at 9:30. Thurs-Sat. Until May 28th.
http://www.citycabaret.com/BJDEXTER/Index.htm.
There's Ellis Island, Bloomingdale's, the Central Park Zoo, and Baby Jane
Dexter. All are Big Apple landmarks, but only one would dare to transform
the Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown into a Jacques Brel ballad.
Yes, we're alluding here to the enthralling Baby Jane, a beloved songstress who's been discharging tunes with her high-powered vocal chords from the times when there were hippies on St. Marks Place, Mayor Koch was a liberal, and Kathie Lee Gifford was kosher. Gay boys of a certain age still have her photos magnet-ed to their refrigerators, and no wonder. Just ask -The New York Times' Stephen Holden who once gushed: "Baby Jane Dexter maybe the most talented singer within a time-honored genre of cabaret performer."
Currently letting loose at Helen's-one of the best new cabarets in town, which serves, by the way, a mean veggie burger with crisp fries-Baby Jane is having an intimate blast with her fans.
The act, which can also be brought on home on her new CD, Baby Jane Dexter Bootlegs Herself, begins with the aforementioned "Breakdown" and ends with "Love's Been Good to Me." In between, there's a memorable cover of the Young Rascals' "How Can I be Sure," a convincing "They Can't Take That Away From Me," and an instructive "Be Cool."
What is slightly missing though is a witty diva-attitude Baby Jane could exude with class and pizzazz. The queen could use a few banter tunes or clever lyrics that she could not only belt out, but also act out. Take: Pearl Bailey's "I Hate Men." Georgia Gibb's "Dance with Me, Henry." A slightly reworded "Diva's Lament" from Spamalot. Or even Sophie Tucker's "Fifty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong." Not enough of Baby Jane's current repertoire really cashes in on her natural piquancy.
If you don't believe me, Catch this gal at a party surrounded by her rabid fans, and you'll see that there's no stopping her. That Baby-Jane joie de vivre could be bottled and sold by the case. Let's see even more of it in the future.[Judell]
Copyright © Brandon Judell 2005
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