In the cabaret world, there is very little so disappointing as a show that starts out strong with an interesting concept and some talented singers, only to fall rapidly into randomness and self-indulgence.Take, for example, Anderson Lim's recent show at The Duplex. Working Man, supposedly a cabaret by and about people with day jobs, begins with a strong rendition of Carly Simon's "Let the River Run." By the time it reaches a '70's funk version of Kander and Ebb's "All That Jazz," it is clutching to its premise with only the thinnest of threads, and the songs are awkwardly (and painfully) shoehorned in. The Wonder Woman theme? "Walking In Space" from Hair? It's too much of a stretch to fit these songs into the show's concept, and instead of supporting the theme, they break it.Lim is backed by Irene Caguinguin and Tonya Doran on vocals and the Jesse Elders Band, all of whom try their best to keep the concept going. Ultimately, and perhaps ironically, Working Man just doesn't work. While Lim has energy to spare and a winsome stage presence, his concept is too flimsy to support a full-length cabaret.

Tesse Fox
Cabaret Scenes
November 18, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org