Have you ever wanted to go back in time to watch a type of show that you just can't see anymore? Head over to Minnsky Theatre for your once in a lifetime chance to see a musical revue like they used to do in the 1920s. Legacy Musical Theatre and Minnsky Theatre are presenting Cole Porter's 1928 Ambassador Revue. If you are interested in the background of the piece, please read my previous post.
So what does a musical revue look like? Simply it is a collection of songs and music with very little to no story. Some of the songs are themed together but not always. Helping you navigate your way through the evening is an emcee. Last night there were two - Tiffany Parks Roberts and Brandon Rumfelt. Brandon was dressed in a white suit coat and top hat with a yellow feather, while Tiffany has a yellow-gold flapper dress. They introduced the evening by giving a bit of history about the show and how it was lost, rediscovered, and was now finally getting a world premiere.
Minnsky Theatre is a vaudeville revival theater in Northeast Minneapolis. I bring this up because it is the perfect setting for this work. The space is intimate with great acoustics, especially for the twelve-piece orchestra set up on stage. They sounded great, and visually looked how I imagine an orchestra in a small 1920's Paris theater would look - red jackets, set on different levels, all being conducted by the amazing Samantha Laumann. Laumann was also the music director for this show and every musical piece vocally and orchestrally fit together so well.
The evening started musically with an Overture, followed by a charming number named "Keep it Moving." Next was a number named "Omnibus." This was a classic Porter list song - one singer listing off the various landmarks of Paris while the chorus follows him around the stage taking it all in. Through a lot of the song dancers are also on stage giving a sense of these landmarks via movement and some acrobatics. Next was a lovely blues number named "Lost Liberty Blues." Sung by the Statue of Liberty, it was comedic, while also including a touch of burlesque. Following that was a song for the men of the chorus - a patriotic number named "Just Like Washington." Martrelle Brown was dressed as Washington, pushed in on a table symbolizing Washington crossing the Delaware. Lyrically the song sings about how Pershing is going to cross the Rhine, just like Washington crossed the Delaware. It was a charming number that was followed by the one Porter song you may have already heard - "Let's Misbehave." This led into "You've Got That Thing" and a number named "Pilot Me."
Tiffany and Brandon came back on stage occasionally to provide jokes, and some historical context to the songs, and the evening. At this point they came on and explained how Porter wanted one last number added to the evening and so he reached out to his friend George Gershwin and asked if he would perform a tune. Gershwin played piano while his sister Frances sang "The Man I Love." This was performed simply at the piano with conductor Samantha Laumann singing. It was a beautiful number. A very nice moment that allows the audience to just relax and focus on the music. This was followed by a great number named "In a Moorish Garden." This is an example of the intrigue the Orient had on writers of that time. It also gave the Minnesota Dance Collaborative time to shine in some very classy choreography.
There were so many great tunes and moments throughout the evening. "Rippling Streams" - a nice tune played by the orchestra while the Minnesota Dance Collaborative danced with veil fans. Most of the dance numbers ended in a classic tableaux - which fit the feel for the show so well. Along with that, the dancers were all shapes and sizes - which also fit the time period. Just to be clear not everything was pretty and charming. The song "Si Vous Aimez" was another example of Porter doing what he did so well - mix the English lyrics with French words, and make it a bit naughty - but not offensive. The ExperTeasers were on stage for this number. Dressed in nightgowns with boas, they kept it classy but naughty while portraying bordello girls. The first act ended with a dance by the Minnesota Dance Collaborative to "March" and then a song for the female chorus named "Military Maids." The chorus members looked lovely in a variety of gowns giving the feel of the 1920s, while the gentlemen (off stage for this number) were all in tuxedos.
After a brief intermission, the evening continued with some Entrance Music (also a Porter melody you would recognize) then a song named "Looking at You." This was sung by Adam Lowe while a lovely lady danced around him. Then she started singing as well and what I thought was a solo because a lovely duet. The next number was one of my favorite numbers. Named "Blue Hours" it had a very Folies Bergere feel to it with large white feather fans being used in the dance part. "Alpine Rose" followed as a solo for a stunning female vocal and yodeling. Another example of Porter giving us a auditory and musical feel for a specific region of the world.
The next group number was "I'm Unlucky at Gambling," followed by "I'm a Bad Woman." This solo number had a very Sophie Tucker look and feel to it - a bit feather headdress, a shimmery gown, and some saucy lyrics about how she is a bad, bad woman, but great company! This lead into "Boulevard Break" - a large chorus number extolling a new dance, with some great Charleston-style dance moves by the MDC. Leading us into the last segment was a short comic group number named "Hans" followed by "Baby, Let's Dance." This was another fun dance number, and a chorus number with a lead singer. This was followed by "An Old Fashioned Girl/Boy" which is another hint of classic Porter. A guy sings about wanting an old fashioned girl while a girl dances around him. There is a brief duet portion and the song ends....or so you think. The girl then gets a chance to sing about how she wants an old fashioned boy, but with a saucy sense to the lyrics...which shows that she may not be as old fashioned as he thinks. The final number was exactly what you would want for a finale. "Fountain of Youth" featured the full chorus, the ExperTeasers, and the Minnesota Dance Collaborative.
The setting and space were perfect, the music was fantastic, and I truly felt exported to a different time watching this work. It was fascinating hearing music that is clearly Cole Porter, and lyrics that are his - but also being able to hear how this is early Porter. You can hear certain lyrics that while good, you also knew that Porter became a better lyricist. At the same time, this is your one chance to hear songs of his that you may never get to hear. And being Cole Porter - they are dang good songs no matter what. The whole experience was absolutely lovely and so enjoyable. I hope that shows like this continue to be performed - not just to remind us of the past, but to showcase some amazing local talent, and to provide an exquisite evening at the theatre.
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