Cashino is a stage show that is part (live) mockumentary about a lounge act and part actual lounge act. The show opened with a projected video that felt a touch long and a touch slow — largely because I was jumping out of my skin with eager anticipation waiting for the live portion of the show to begin.
When the stars finally hit the stage, they burst the show open with a medley which serves the sole purpose of letting you know that this evening is going to be fast-paced, high-energy, and filled with snippets from hits of the 70s and 80s mashed together with timeless show tunes. The opening number is right in line with the characters in the opening video – over the top and trying a little too hard. To someone who is unfamiliar with Cashino, the opening sequence of video followed by a medley which feels filled with insider jokes can be daunting. But once you get to give yourself a chance to get acquainted, to know these characters is to adore them. You root for them — even if you can’t quite believe in their ability to succeed — and therefore you’re a little embarrassed for them.
By the second number — either because they’ve really hit their stride or because you’re over the painful gnawing fear that they’ll humiliate themselves (and by extension, you) — there is nothing left to experience but pure, unadulterated joy.
The medleys work far better than they have any right to. From concept through arrangement – Susan Mosher and John Boswell (as Pepper Cole and Johnny Niagra) slam together songs that simply have no business being in the same show much less the same number. Like songs from the musical Chigaco and songs from the 1970s soft rock band Chicago. Or the songs of Liza Minelli with the songs of Milli Vanilli. A crowning achievement was entitled “The Queen and I” and brought together hits from the band Queen with the score of the musical “The King and I.” Ending with the chorus from Queen’s “We are the Champions” brought the whole piece full-circle back to the banter which preceded the number, all about the 1950s movie-musical couple Marge and Gower Champion.
Cashino should, in the hands of any reasonable human being, be pure camp. It should be kitschy and bordering on terrible. It should be ironic. But its honesty supersedes all of the devices it incorporates. and leaves only a bewitchingly implausible collection of precisely performed numbers.
The show included two solo pieces to showcase each of the performers. Johnny Niagra’s loungey cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” was nothing short of miraculous. As the lights dimmed to a single spot on Johnny at the piano, I wondered why they would drop something low-energy into the middle of a perfectly-paced set. But I didn’t really have time to consider the change in tone because I was completely enraptured with what turned out to be a brilliant, ironic, and though-provoking twist on a song that I’ve heard a thousand times performed in a thousand ways. None of them as good as this one. It’s easy to overlook the presence of Johnny Niagra, trapped behind the piano all evening. Showcasing his astounding talent in this way highlighted the huge impact of his contribution to the show.
Pepper Cole’s solo number was a demented version of “Don’t Cry Out Loud” interspersed with hilarious, cutting, painful, rollicking, searing anecdotes about her tragic youth. For the sake of full disclosure, I feel that I should point out that “Don’t Cry Out Loud” is one of my very favorite songs. I’m often teased for this, but I find its terrible beauty to be both mocking and moving. And I just like it. A lot. So the minute I heard the piano tinkling like a faraway big top, I prayed silently for “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” And I got more than I could have ever hoped for. Susan Mosher holds nothing back and somehow manages to never be exaggerated. Her performance is ridiculous and honest and unquestionably brave.
The thing about Cashino is that you spend most of the show thinking “oh man, I love this song! I thought I was the only person who liked this song! I can’t believe they’re singing this song!” and the rest of the show saying “oh man, I feel the same way! I thought I was the only person who felt that way! I can’t believe they’re saying this on stage!”
Or maybe that’s just me.
Cashino is in New York for one more week, with a show at the Laurie Beechman Theater next Monday, March 7th at 9:30pm. It’ll be a different video and different set list. You should go. I am, without a doubt, not going to miss it.