By Ilaria Cutolo
Club Dada/Kabaret Kaput starring Broadway veterans Ellen Foley and Robert I Rubinsky offers everything you want in a downtown show. A funny, apocalyptic cabaret performance where two chums are forced to perform for a literal talking head in the sky until they are, well, kaput! How do I put it? It’s camp meets vaudeville meets funny meets glam/pop/punk/Broadway tunes that span the 70’s through the oughts. Foley and Rubinsky’s renditions stirred the emotions with classics such as the Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes”, and the most dynamic cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” I’ve ever seen performed live. Let’s just that these two know how to belt out a tune. Foley’s solo of Radiohead’s “Creep” gave me chills and their mash-up of The Kink’s “Lola” and Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” with feather headdress on Rubinsky and mustache and bowler hat on Foley was worth the price of admission.
Rubinsky and Foley give us attitude with seasoned Broadway vocal chops while simultaneously taking the piss on themselves? On cabaret? On theater? I’m not really sure, but if I had to make one slight criticism, as pointed out by my evening’s guest, I wish they would have taken a little more of the piss.
But alas, it’s a rare mix of comedy and good old fashion Rock n’ Roll while exuding romp-y glamour. Yes this duo is up there in age, but who cares? I left the show feeling frisky. And isn’t that the point? It’s clear that they have seen it all, been through it all, and tonight they gave it their all. At one point someone in the audience yelled out “You’re so good!” and I must agree. Let’s just say that I felt very much at home here with Club DaDa/Kabaret Kaput. If you’re a fan of fun gender bending antics with a dose of vaudevillian punk, then, seriously, take a night off and go see this show!
CLUB DADA/KABARET KAPUT
Starring: Ellen Foley and Robert I. Rubinsky
CONTINUES SUMMER RESIDENCE AT NEW YORK’S DIXON PLACE.161A Chrystie Street, New York NY 10002
Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased on www.dixonplace.org or www.ovationtickets.com
Club Dada/Kabaret Kaput originally was presented at LaMama right before the pandemic shut down and the May dates begin a residency for the show at its new home, Dixon Place with added performances being announced soon. This will be followed by dates in July TBA.
Under the direction of Tom Aulino (Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Do You Feel Anger?), musical direction is by Charly Roth, choreography by Robin Carregan and the Weimer voice over is Jonathan Freeman (the voice of Jafar in Aladdin).
