Rob Lindley
Of/Off Course
Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, April 10, 2016
Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes
Rob Lindley solo cabaret shows are a treat. Chicago theater-goers know him well as an actor and director and, while he often appears with the excellent close harmony group Foiled Again, his solo cabaret performances are rare. In Of/Off Course, Lindley shares his musical and spoken reflections about how life and love take us in unexpected directions. His rangy tenor is supple, offering both a solidly supported upper belt and rich lower tones.
He moves like a dancer, sometimes frenetically and always with grace. He is a remarkable storyteller who can seamlessly move an audience from belly laughs to misty-eyed reflection. His tale of his first Marriott Theatre-in-the-round experience, where he was consistently at the wrong place at the wrong time, had the audience howling, yet relating to their own mishaps.
He brings the timing of an experienced stand-up comedian to his Craig’s List monologue, and also explores the hits and misses of today’s dating. “Hey Eugene” is an edgy, fun song written by China Forbes about waiting for the call from the guy who asked for your number after making out with him at a party where alcohol had been the guest of honor. Lindley excels at creating unexpected song pairings.
Highlights include an unlikely, yet most effective pairing of Irving Berlin’s “You’d Be Surprised” and “You’ve Changed” (Carl Fischer/Bill Carey). This pairing helps us reflect on the extent to which Lindley flexes both his comedy chops and tender side. But, as the show’s title suggests, what began as a snuggly romance can go off course. Lindley, who directed the lauded Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, captured the wistful disappointment of “You’ve Changed” with just a touch of Holiday’s languid delivery. Another thought-provoking pairing leads us from “If I Only Had a Brain” into John Bucchino’s “Playbill.
” It’s not brains that leads us into love.
Lindley finds the depth in the edgy lyrics of Joni Mitchell’s A Case of You. Chuck Larkin provided excellent music support and some yummy riffs.
