Cheryl Coons, Beckie Menzie, with Bob Mason: Old Friends

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Cheryl Coons, Beckie Menzie, with Bob Mason

Old Friends

Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, December 31, 2018

Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes

Cheryl Coons & Beckie Menzie

Real life old friends and collaborators Cheryl Coons and Beckie Menzie, along with guest Bob Mason, graced Davenport’s SRO New Year’s Eve crowd with musical reflections on long friendship expressed through song. Opening with the trio’s pairing of Sondheim’s “Old Friends” and “Good Friends” set the show’s tone. Each performer shared an engaging story or two about how their friendships began and grew.
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 The opening sequence was followed by “Comrade Putin,” a hilarious parody of “Mister Sandman.” In addition to being old (and as explained, close) friends, Coons and Menzie have been a successful songwriting team. “Love Handles” was a highlight from their Redneck Song Cycle. Coons honored fellow lyricist Lynn Ahrens with “We Can Never Go Back to Before” (music: Stephen Flaherty), delivered with the conviction that Ahrens’ lyrics require. (Coons shared her awe at meeting Ahrens in person.
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) Menzie delivered “It Ain’t Yours to Throw Away” (Lee Brice/Jon Stone/Pam Tillis) with quiet passion rooted in her unique experience as a mentor to aspiring singers.
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Mason delivered Harry Chapin’s “Taxi” with the simplicity and truth the song merits. (This reporter believes that Chapin’s rich story songs are underperformed in cabaret.) Closing with the audience singing along to “You’ve Got a Friend” was a lovely choice for the New Year.

Carla Gordon

Carla Gordon is a singer/songwriter, director, and producer. The Chicago Tribune cited her among “Chicago’s most accomplished cabaret performers….a major player in Chicago cabaret.” Reviewer Pam Peterson called her “Honey-voiced wisecracker!” Ageless Magazine called her performance as Sophie tucker, “A gem!” Gordon writes custom material for singers nationwide. Her flagship show, "Blacklisted," featuring songs made famous by artists blacklisted under McCarthyism, has toured to critical acclaim. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Cabaret Professionals and on the Advisory Board of the Skokie Theater. Her songs air on WFMT’s Midnight Special and are being performed performed by cabaret artists nationwide. carlacabaret@aol.com