Jennifer Simard
Stigma
The Green Room 42, NYC, September 9, 2018
Reviewed by Randolph B. Eigenbrode for Cabaret Scenes
It’s crazy to think that Jennifer Simard, with 25+ years of NYC performing experience and countless accolades and nominations, is just now making her cabaret debut. But that’s only the beginning of a string of surprises from the kooky comedienne.
Here Simard ditches her trademark wacky sensibility and instead rocks out in a black, ‘90s-inspired goth get-up and an almost exclusively pop/rock set list. She recalls Laura Branigan with a well-placed “Let’s Go Crazy” (Prince), never allowing the insanely high key to feel shrill or strident. Similarly clean (and confident) were a manic “Crazy Train” (Bob Daisley/Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads) and be-bop “Twisted” (Wardell Gray/Annie Ross).
Notice a pattern here?
Simard tackles mental illness stigma, bravely admitting to her own struggles, and advocates for her audience to acknowledge their struggles—psychological and beyond. While the sentiment is clearly heartfelt, she rambles in long patter passages that seemingly diminish the punch of her musical storytelling. Add to that an unanticipated lack of humor, which Simard clearly excels at, and the piece unfortunately becomes a classic case of freshman over-share.
Still, she delivers, particularly in the quiet moments. A pairing of “Help Me” (Joni Mitchell) and “Crazy” (Willie Nelson) bubbled with an understated vulnerability. And “Hand in my Pocket” (Alanis Morisette/Glen Ballard), starting simple and somber, built with a cool assuredness against a rock drone. Here Simard radiated like a beacon, finally giving her audience the space to both root for her brand of bonkers while simultaneously letting them reflect on their own.
For a debut, Simard shows promise. But, I wasn’t nuts about this showing.
