Photo by Craig Allyn Cochrane
Reviewed By Julia Stier
Gardenia Supper Club
Through December 8
RECOMMENDED
Part musical revue, part therapy session, Ms. Tucker Will See You Now is an 80 minute romp through the songs and comedy of the late, great jazz singer Sophie Tucker, known as the “Last of the Red Hot Mamas.”
At the Gardenia Supper Club, Laural Meade, bedazzled and fabulous, brings Sophie Tucker back to life. Meade serves as writer and performer, and is accompanied by Gregory Nabours on piano. It’s a simple show, but a captivating one, that feels both flirtatious and extravagant, and exquisitely intimate.
Although Meade dons the persona of Tucker throughout the show, this is no impersonation act. It’s far deeper and personal, and all the more enjoyable for that. For most of the performance, Meade shows up as herself, and shares struggles and stories from her own life. She interweaves these anecdotes seamlessly with tales from Tucker’s life.
One moment that stands out is a during a brief history lesson about the “Blue” humor that Tucker was known for. As Meade repeats different nicknames for female anatomy – a bit that would have shocked, and delighted, the audience of Tucker’s years – Meade herself confesses that she still struggles to say the words due to her conservative upbringing.
However, though the words may feel foreign to say, Meade looks like she is having a blast.
This moment, though brief, drives home the idea that channeling Tucker is a therapeutic act for Meade. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.
While the stories are moving, the musical aspect of the show is just as noteworthy. Meade is a powerful alto, whose full and rich voice do Tucker justice. Meade delivers a show-stopping rendition of “My Yiddishe Mama” – an incantation more moving and powerful than ever.
Tucker was also known for breaking barriers when it came to comedy, and inspired a generation of female comediennes who grew up listening to her be unabashedly crass. Meade honors that legacy by peppering the set with jokes from women such as Bette Midler, Joan Rivers, and Phyllis Diller, all of whom credit Tucker as a source of inspiration.
If I had to sum up this cabaret in two words, it would be these: generous and vulnerable. Meade is a soulful talent, whose willingness to connect with audiences on such a human level serves as a reminder of the power of intimate theater.
Gardenia Supper Club, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood. Next perf Fri., Nov. 18, 7 pm. www.gardeniasupperclub.com. Run time: one hour and twenty minutes with no intermission.
