Robbie Rozelle
Tuesdays at 54…with Robbie Rozelle
Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, August 20, 2019
Reviewed by Chris Struck for Cabaret Scenes
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Robbie Rozelle’s new series at Feinstein’s/54 can be summed up in a single sentence: A lot happened. To start, there’s Rozelle himself. He comes alive when he takes a mic in his hands; he morphs into the kind of showman that thrives on attention and on the prospect of giving other performers opportunities.
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He opened and closed the show with something like half a song that could be paraphrased as “Let me entertain you” and “I hate to leave you, but…” He also conducted three interviews with LGBTQ theater stars, who performed, and included were a pair of guests.
The night started with the appearance of Kyle Taylor Parker, who replaced Billy Porter as Lola in Kinky Boots. After Rozelle conducted a lengthy interview with Parker about what he’s been up to and the role he played, Parker shared a song from his Soul Sessions CD. He likes converting Broadway songs into soul music and embodied that fusion by singing “Out Tonight” (Jonathan Larson) from Rent. Even with that makeover, he remained true to the original.
Next up was Natalie Walker, a performer everybody should know. Her comedic, clever jabs and one-liners in her interview with Rozelle were like someone putting a “Laugh Now” sign up for the audience. Especially when talking about understudying both the Queen of Hearts and Alice, she turned from demure to “Off with their heads” at the drop of a dime. Her idea of a “one woman show” that included both parts would be unbelievable.
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Walker also showed off her confidence and her vocal talent, strutting her stuff while walking through the audience, in a rendition of “Mein Herr” (Kander & Ebb) that Liza Minnelli would have been proud of.
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The best was saved for last, and it featured still more surprises. With Bonnie Milligan on stage, Rozelle was like a kid with a new favorite toy. After discussing the emotional send-off of Head Over Heels, Rozelle had Milligan show off for the audience by belting her highest notes. When she mentioned that her dream role would be to play the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, it was Walker who took the stage as Prince Charming, serenading her with, “Right and wrong doesn’t matter in the woods.” After the two of them made out enough between lines to leave The Prom in the dust, Milligan absolutely astounded with a terrific rendition of the lyrics “Was that him, was that me?/No it wasn’t/just a trick of the woods” and “That’s what woods are for/For those moments in the woods.” The pair also performed “Let Me Be Your Star” (Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman) from Smash. Walker had held her own on her other songs with ample vocal ability, but it was here where Milligan truly set herself apart.
What’s next for another Tuesday with Rozelle? Who knows? Hopefully, more of the same: something different.
