If you like watching paint dry, grass grow, or wallpaper peel. . .well, to be honest, I worry about you and you’re reading the wrong review. Now if you like sass, jazz, razzmatazz, soul, and rock n roll, buckle up your seat belts and get ready for four dynamite divas to add a little rocket fuel to your night. They’re loud. They’re proud. They’re bold and they’re gold. And all they want is a little Respect down at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Respect is a 90 minute concert that pays tribute to the trailblazing women of music. You’ll sway, bop, and dance to hits from legendary performers such as Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick, the Supremes, and many more. While you’re “Dancing In the Street”, you’ll also learn some trivia and facts along the way.
How good is this show?
Why don’t you tell me? How would you rate a show that gets people clapping, has them bouncing in their seats, earns spontaneous standing ovations, and has them roaring?
My sentiments exactly.
The four singers just dominate the stage and had the audience eating out of the palms of their hands. All of them have big, beautiful, powerful voices that excelled in harmony and in solo work. Their colorful, sequined dresses designed by Lindsay Pape sparkled just as much as their voices. They clearly had a blast performing these numbers and that enthusiasm infected the audience with a frightening rapidity.
Dara Hogan’s star really shone tonight with her complete and utter ownership of her numbers. Confidence just poured from her as she out-Tinaed Tina Turner with a thunderous take on “Proud Mary”; hit a bullseye with a solo moment in “Don’t Make Me Over”; and brought it all home with a classic performance of “I Am Woman” that would make Helen Reddy weep.
Dani Cleveland has a nice throaty voice that just wraps you in warmth and has a flair for comedy as shown by her witticisms. And such skill! Cleveland showed mastery of multiple genres from the country stylings of Connie Francis’ “Who’s Sorry Now” to the soft pop of Gladys Knight and the Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia”, and matched the mighty Diana Ross in “Stop! In the Name of Love”.
Shirley Terrell-Jordan’s energy could power a bullet train and seemed imbued with the spirit of Dionne Warwick when she belted out “Don’t Make Me Over” and I thrilled to her take with Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man”.
Caitlin Mabon really had a wide emotional spectrum with her numbers. Particular standouts were an intense, even a little angry, take on Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” which was one of my favorite melodies of the night and a sweet take on Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend”.
Jim Othuse’s lights lent that big time concert feel to enhance the work of the larger than life quartet while Ananias Montague and his band (Myles Jasnowski, Darren Pettit, Jonathan Sanders, Raquel Taylor, and Jacob Sorensen) perfectly played the numbers of these legendary artists.
A few wonky microphone moments couldn’t stop the onslaught of this tuneful train and if you leave this show without having a good time. . .well, I fear you fit my opening sentence.
For the rest of you, you still have a chance to catch Respect, but move fast! As of this writing, tickets are only available for June 23 and 25. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased by calling 402-553-0800, visiting the box office, or heading to www.omahaplayhouse.com. The Omaha Playhouse is located at 6915 Cass St in Omaha, NE.
Chris' Corner 