Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael
A “Jim” of a Show
Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, April 21, 2018
Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes
Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael again raised the bar in their sold-out run of A “Jim” of a Show honoring songwriters Jimmy Van Heusen, James Taylor, and Jimmy Webb. The opening number, a parody of “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” cites a troop of Jimmies. There’s Jimmy Dean, the sausage guy, and we still wonder where Jimmy Hoffa might be. Complex harmonies and sumptuous vocals in the duet of Webb’s enigmatic ”MacArthur Park” make it a standout. Juicy dialogue explains Van Heusen’s smug womanizing. While we grin at Menzie’s sly delivery of his “Personality” (lyrics: Johnny Burke) with updated lyrics about JLo’s tush and Dolly Parton’s… um… gifts, the realization comes that the culture of objectifying women inside the entertainment industry has a long history. When Menzie sings “Go away, then, damn you” in Taylor’s “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,” we get it. The medley of Webb standards is musically lush, with Michael’s supple vocals on “Witchita Lineman,” Menzie’s delicate balance between compassion and regret in “The Worst That Can Happen,” and sweet blendings in “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.” Menzie and Michael share insights about the songwriters, including thoughts on Taylor’s dark side and the musical synergy between Webb and Glen Campbell. With Jim, Menzie and Michael delivered what they do best: excellent musicality, engaging storytelling, and loving chemistry that takes audiences “up, up, and away”!
