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Big Hair (and Other Teases)
"Big Hair" (And Other Teases), cunrently
holding at Upstairs at Gene and Gabe's, has
the freshness and energy of a show early in its
run. The performance combines song and
dance, impersonation and satire, to achieve an
effect of festive chaos. You never know what
will come at you next: a sloshed lounge
singer sprawled indecorously across a piano; a
anything else. The number elicits the
audience's applause, but it's the sort of
response that audiences typically manufacture
on cue, when a performer displays,
appropriately or not, the breadth of his or her
technical skills, as by holding a note endlessly
for no good reason.
It's more important, though, to say that
The Cast of Big Hair (and Other Teases)
down-for-the-count Jim and Tammy Bakker
still pitching for everyone else's hard-earned
bucks; or a bashful accordion player whose
fingers fly at the merest hint of audience
enthusiasm.
"Big Hair" is written in a spirit that is more
commemorative than biting. "Jail House
Rock" is sung with seductive energy by a
young woman in a black leather jacket who
re-invests the song with something of its
distinctive original fire. The show's pianist
takes us through a witty monologue about his
piano that makes it seem an animate member
of the cast. And a solo male performer blends
the separate fervors of gospel, torch and jazz
to stop the show with a song about dashed
love that leaves audience members cheering.
Comedy never explains, and "Big Hair"
features some of the wittiest comic props seen
in a very long while. Most notable is a pile of
locks teased practically as high as the IBM
Tower, and perched precariously atop the
head of a gospel singer in the throes of head
swinging religious ecstasy. Audience
members hold their breath that the thing will
fling itself onto their laps.
When the show sags, which it does a bit in
places, there is the feeling that someone has
come up with a singing number, such as the
duo who bells out, of all things, "Leaving on a
Jet Plane", that seems more filler than
"Big Hair" has moments that are smashingly
funny. Best of all is the Jim and Tammy
Bakker take-off, which proves once again that
good actors working from good material can
make even such tried-and-true figures of
derision as these seem up-to-the-minute and
bizarre.
Standouts among the first-rate cast of
performers include Libby Whittemore, Robby
Preddy and Sam Baker. "Big Hair" was
written and directed by Patrick Cuccaro; the
musical direction and songs are Jeff Lipham's;
and the unforgettable wigs are the creations of
Gene Handley, who must be possessed
sometimes by the most extraordinary dreams.
•Terry Francis
Big Hair (and Other Teases)" has been
held over for the month of August at
Upstairs at Gene & Gabe's. For
reservations and further information call
892-2261. Performances run Tuesday
through Sunday at 9:00 p.m. with a second
show on Saturday at 11:00 p.m. Tickets are
$14.50 per person.,
m The R.W. Associates Presents
^ An Evening of Feminist Humor with
Kate Clinton
wrra opening Act
Leigh McClelland
at Center StageTheatre
Saturday, September 24 8:00 PM
$13.50 General Admission
1374 W. Peachtree (at 17th) Tickets at the box office and all SEATS
outlets, including Turtles. To charge tickets, call 873-2500. For
information, 231-0751 or 633-2475.
Angela Motter
Doesn't Just
"Play Around"
Angela Motter doesn't just play around.
She knows what she wants and goes for if
Currently, that means orchestrating the
release of a full album of original Motter
songs.
"I am a ham," the serious but sexy Atlanta
native admits. "I love being on stage. When
I was in my first dance recital as a kid and the
audience applauded I didn't want to finish the
bow.. .1 didn't want to leave the stage."
Anyone who catches her act this month
with comedian Max Rapkin at Backstreet
(Wed. and Thurs., 10:00 p.m., no cover) will
feel the same way. Angela always leaves
audiences wanting more of her pop jazz
tunes.
"I remember sitting on the floor listening
to Carole King's Tapestry in 1971 and
thinking, Will I ever be able to write like
that?’." This December her collection of eight
songs will be available as proof of that dream
come true.
At press time, Angela was in final
negotiations for production of her first
recording which is scheduled to begin in late
September with an anticipated release dale in
December. Under the guidance of noted
Atlanta musician Ricky Keller, who produced
the 94Q Jazz Flavours albums and the new
Tinsley Ellis album scheduled for release here
next week, Angela's work will be available on
both CD and cassette tape.
"I'm working toward a new dimension
with this album," Angela reveals. "I have
some of the city's best musicians working
with me - drummer Jeff Sipe, guitarist Jimmy
Herring, keyboardist Randy Hoexter - on my
very best tunes, including ballad, jazz and
funk influences."
"Harmonically, my songs aren’t
particularly complex," the modest Motter
admits, "but I believe that 1 give musicians
something to sink their teeth into." Her belief
was confirmed time and time again by
musicians such as Bill Dugan and Herring
who accompanied her in the Angela Motter
Band for long-standing gigs at the Little Five
Points Pub and Jerry Farbcr's Nightclub
during the past year.
Her recent partnering with Max Rapkin in
the duo known as Elvis' Hair represents yet
another diversion for the never-say-stop
Motter. The combination of Angela's
sensitive jazz vocals with Rapkin's
Vaudeville style of vocal imitations
representing almost any musical instrument
Cont'd Page 10
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