Rob Maitner's "Basket Case": my review

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:50am

Hi everybody!

Things fell together perfectly for me last weekend in that my special friend and I found ourselves with free time at the same time. I was psyched because we were able to book a table at the Duplex for the first performance of Rob Maitner’s “Basket Case: A Songspiel for the Unhinged.”

I’ve never been much of a “group person,” so when I read somewhere on the board that “everybody who’s anybody” would be going to the second show, on April 30, I realized, “Phew! I never enjoy everybody who’s anybody events, and this will give me a chance to see the show without that added responsibility of seeing and being seen!” It was actually somewhat touch and go because my special friend recently suffered the loss of his father, and I wasn’t sure if he was going to be up for going out at all.

I’ve been sitting with my reactions to the show for a week. I’d like to be able to do it justice and to encourage people who may be sitting on the fence about seeing the show to hop off the fence and get themselves to the Duplex.

But, for the time being, allow me to digress and use my special friend as an example of somebody you’d want to sit in your audience if you want to see how your show plays to the exact opposite of the wise and jaded insider audience that most of us could probably count ourselves among. He probably has heard 1/2 of the songs from musicals that Rob sang, seen 1/4 of them performed in productions of the shows themselves.

For the few days leading up to the weekend, he'd say things like, "Now how do you know this guy we're seeing Saturday? Just from online? But you've never met in person?" And then I heard him on the phone telling somebody we were going to see "a comedy show" Saturday night. I explained that it was probably more like songs and patter than a comedy show, but that from Rob's online sense of humor, I was sure there would be a few laughs.

Okay, so, fade in, fade out. If there is ONE thing my special friend hates above anything else, it's drink minimums. So I told him as we headed toward the Duplex, that the whole night was on me, to order two drinks right away, and to not think of them as required.

As for the show itself, I will give away no spoilers here, because part of the thrill is wondering what Robbie is going to do next. Let me just say that Robbie has exquisite taste in song selection, a lovely singing voice that I found achingly beautiful at times and SUCH an ear for variety and unexpected arrangements. And a way with a story. I know a thing or two about comedy writing, and the stories he told were hilarious. And occasionally the punchlines had punchlines.

And as hard as I laughed, I was also swept away by his technical skills as a singer. I mean, Rob’s really, really good. What is so great about Basket Case is that I couldn't guess what was going to come next and was thrilled to go along for the ride. And also, there was one moment that I found myself covered in goosebumps, which always makes me think of Trudy explaining Goosebump Experiences to the space aliens in “Search for Signs of Intelligent Life,” about how art has the ability to evoke a chemical response within us, if it’s really good. I also got a little weepy a couple of times, but my special friend would explain to you that that's hardly unusual. He says I "cry at a grapefruit."

People who’ve read my posts here over the years probably have figured out something about me: I don't gush if I don't mean it. Going to see “Basket Case” was a minor crapshoot for me, the worst case scenario would have been how to be polite if the show wasn't my cup of tea. I would have pasted a fake smile on my face and said a few empty words. Instead I found myself wanting to tell Rob that what he did in his cabaret show reminded me of Sandra Bernhard’s shows when she’s at her best. How she can take a funny idea, even outlandish ideas, and make us laugh and then slowly over the course of a song make us see the poignancy and truth in what she’s singing. How she can illustrate for us something like, “Yeah, these are the conventions of the form, but let me move you beyond the standard responses you’re used to having.” I don’t know if other people love Sandra the way I do, but it’s one of the highest compliments I can pay Rob. Coming from my sensibility, that’s a five-star approval rating.

I will let the final word be my special friend’s. At the end of the night he went to the men's room and came back and I had paid the bill. He said, "Did you really pay for everything?" And I told him that I didn't want to have him get angsty over the two-drink minimum. He said, "Oh, I don't mind if it's something as good as Rob's show."

I've never heard him say anything like that before, and I've known him 10 years. He loved the show, too. Throughout the next day, we kept repeating an ad-lib that Robbie made to a work friend who was chattering during the show. And I thought of a line he attributed to his mother in one story and would start giggling in the least appropriate moments at work this week.

Seeing “Basket Case” was a bigger crapshoot for my special friend. He had no sense of RobbieJ’s online sensibility. He just went along for the ride as somebody who enjoys a good show, but doesn't dissect things the way I do, isn't overly familiar with the cabaret format and isn't particularly wed to the modern musical canon. The two of us, coming from two different places, loved the show equally.

I’m just so glad that we were able to make it. I’m officially a fan of Rob’s forever. Unless he becomes a born again ex-gay and starts singing on 700 Club. To those of you who are seeing the show, have a sip of your two drink minimums for me and my special friend! And throw in a clap for RobbieJ from us.

(I said "a" clap, not "the" clap!)

Namo

Updated On: 4/29/05 at 11:50 AM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:56am

Wow. Just. Wow. I mean, I was going to go see the show tomorrow anyway and I've had occasion to be in the audience when Rob performs, but it's nice to have a totally outside, uh, outsider, give his stamp of approval.
Or her. Who's to say since you decided not to come when "Everybody who's anybody" is coming.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:59am

I know! I love being a nobody! On the other hand, somebody loves me, and the line goes that you're nobody til somebody loves you. So, it turns out, I AM somebody!

Another thing, I forgot to mention Rob's pianist. Bear fans should take note and be prepared to woof.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:59am

What a great review. Coming from you, who really has not been areound here too much lately (not that we miss you or anything!) it really is a testament to Robbie's talent. I hope anyone who hasn't yet reserved a ticket will take it from this old poop and call today.

PS. Did you meet anyone from BWW? Nina? Iflit? I think there were some others there, too.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:02pm

Sueleen, I'm Beyond Discreet! My lips are like a ziploc bag. Which is problematic in many situations.

I'm such a voyeur though, I have mental snapshots of the whole audience. If I could upload them to the web, I'd send them to you.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:02pm

my biggest (and nearly only) regret about moving away was missing this. i am f***ing heartbroken!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:04pm

Oh jeez. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I'll PM you some spoilers so you can "feel" like you've seen it.

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:17pm

Well...since the cat is out of the bag, Namo was the attendee I referred to in an earlier post as the guest who wished to remain anonymous.

And let me tell you...to get a compliment from HIM is an humbling experience.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now write me something!!!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:24pm

You do damn well writing on your own. Lorne Michael's people would be wise to catch your show. As Britney would say, "For reals, y'all."

[NYadgal]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:31pm

Bravo!

To Namo and to Robbie.

My pearls are ready to be clutched.

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:35pm

Thank you to whomever opened the window and let fresh air back on the message boards.

Please, don't shut the windows!

Oh, and Robbie, I'm bringing Joe, too.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:44pm

I'm pretty sure it's Pope John XXIII who opened the windows to fresh air. But, they were slammed back shut not that long after that.

Speaking of matters spiritual, I've been thinking a lot of the passage in Jeffrey, immortalized by Nathan Lane in the film, about how being in the audience at a show is profoundly spiritual and how it puts you in the presence of g-d.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Rob's show was something of a spiritual tonic for two guys who've been dealing with grief and mourning for the past month. It was for us, to quote Trudy from "Search for Signs..." again, a "peak experience" just when we needed it most.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:53pm

Dang, you couldn't buy reviews like this.
Wait, Robbie, you didn't buy this review from Namo, did you?

[Craig]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:54pm

As I said to Robbie:

"You just got the Mamma Rose of all reviews by Namo. Take that sucker to the bank!"

Updated On: 4/29/05 at 12:54 PM

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:55pm

define 'buy'.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 1:00pm

Ha, HA! You kids crack me up.

I know, I always hold back. And I did this time too. Look, I waited almost a whole week to publish my thoughts and reactions. But since I've been in an afterglow for a week, I figured gushing is the only appropriate response.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 1:00pm

I meant "buy" in the sense of what gay men will do to get what they want.
Don't make me say it.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 1:01pm

that's some afterglow....

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 1:06pm

Afterglow...gushing...
Yep, shame on you, Robbiej!

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 1:38pm

Believe what you'd like, but a lady never tells!

You f*cking bitch!

[Al Dente]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 6:49pm

How I love and miss my Namo! As I said in another thread about Robbie's show, none of these reviews surprise me but it does leave me even more saddened to have missed it myself.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 9:23pm

Robbie. Taken at last week's show...

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:13pm

Were we different kinds of people, Undi, I'd say people were looking at future big ticket eBay items...

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:25pm

One just never knows, does one...

[Nina]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 7:58am

"Everybody who's anybody is going this weekend"

Who is "everybody"? Who is going this weekend? Post here if you are and let us know.