Mega-versatile Jim Caruso brought his act "out of mothballs and into Birdland," for a one-man, one-night-only cast party. Let's make that a cast of two, because Caruso was joined by another multi-talent, pianist/vocalist Johnny Rodgers. Actually, it was three, since The Pirate Queen's Stephanie J. Block docked into Birdland to show off her facile vocal chops and outgoing stage presence.

The show, however, was all about Caruso, and he soared -- witty, quick, musical and intelligent. His humor is on the self-deprecating side, at one point asking the audience, "Who's here thinking I'm Malcolm Getz?" referring to the Broadway actor who had to cancel the date.

"(Birdland) is the jazz corner of the world," Caruso quipped, indicating the logo behind him, then adding slyly, "Somewhere Charlie Parker is a little nauseous."

Flashing a new suit and Kelly green socks, Caruso offered a generous show with an introductory opener, "(I'm) Shy," from Mary Rodgers/Marshall Barer's, Once Upon a Mattress and made famous by Carol Burnett. Caruso and pianist Rodgers then delivered a multi-sided "Hey, Good Looking" (Hank Williams), shadowing from sexy to boogie to Rodgers' super-boogie piano flash.

Buoyancy, belting, and laughs ruled the show. Marilyn Miller and Cheryl Hardwick's "Making Love Alone" was a comic bonanza. Another was Fred Ebb's lyrics to "The Girl from Ipanema" (Jobim). You heard right -- Ebb and Jobim, with Ebb substituting "Fire Island" for "Ipanema," taking the tune from the beach in Rio to the beach on Long Island. Caruso is an admirer of Kander and Ebb, and took a turn at lyric writing himself, redoing "Coffee In a Cardboard Cup" millennium-style. Think Starbucks-lingo.

Since Caruso's idol has long been Dick Van Dyke, he delivered a lilting medley from Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang-Bang (Sherman brothers). His great friendship with Liza Minnelli was reflected with samples of her godmother, Kay Thompson's stylized arrangements. It was also reflected in Caruso's very Liza-like moves on stage.

Johnny Rodgers, blonder than usual, was a one-man piano show himself, showing his strong bass left hand and nimble finger work in a swinging solo of Henderson, DeSilva, and Brown's "Birth of the Blues." "A gas," as Sammy Davis, Jr. would have said.

Jim Caruso and Friends: A One Man Show drew a slew of friends in the audience, including Amanda Green, Natalie Douglas, Todd Londagin, and John Wallowitch.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
June 4, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org