BWW Reviews: Sassy SETH RUDETSKY Entertains in Naples

Seth Rudetsky" width="225" />Thank you, Seth Rudetsky.

The last thing you expect to hear on a wet Wednesday in March is a cover of "I Dreamed A Dream," that song from "Les Miserables," yes THAT song, as performed by Aretha oh please no Franklin. The tune. It ... it ... travels?

Aretha "makes it her own," adding lyrics, hitting each ear-splitting shriek within near-earth orbit and trilling enough vibrato to wallpaper the Vatican. Find the song on YouTube (http://youtu.be/eDlkCEbBv_c); at the 3:21 mark, Aretha inserts "What the hell is going on!" into Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel's immortal tune. Really Aretha? Really?

That awful sound, this wail, like a weed eater going down a garbage disposal with ten cowbells and a coffee can attached, is hitting every note of "I Dreamed A Dream." The Queen of Soul is killing this song and not in a good way. How does she do it? Seth knows. He deconstructs the technique, and he's gonna tell us how!

Rudetsky, a multi-talented, multi-platform (sethtv.com) comedian brought his one-man show "Seth Rudetsky's Deconstructing Broadway" to the Daniels Pavilion at the Naples Philharmonic Wednesday. Rudetsky, who also hosts a show on Sirius/XM, has a wide and deep knowledge of musical theatre. "Deconstructing Broadway" pokes fun at divas and their performances.

Much of the show mixes Rudetsky's lightning delivery, razor-sharp humor and oh-so-sassy wit with audio and video of offending singers. God forgive us Barbra Streisand, Betty Buckley, Carly Simon and a host more. You will never guess where in the Anatevka Bette Midler pops up.

Fashion. Melba Moore, who won a Tony Award for "Purlie," comes under fire. And that pair of flared, ruffled hot pants and matching jacket that fluffed out like an iguana's neck ruff deserved the fire. Melba, I hope you fired that stylist.

And then there was "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour." For starters, who knew Alice Nelson could dance?

The comic saves his greatest (or worst, depending on how you listen to it) hit for last. Someone decided to let Bea Arthur sing "Don't Rain on My Parade." Imagine the horrified looks from the people around you. I know, right. Dorothy Zbornak sings Barbra Streisand! (http://youtu.be/DguuaWaCWCE)

If you missed Seth Rudetsky in Naples, find him online at sethtv.com or on Sirius/XM at siriusxm.com/onbroadway.

To post a comment, you must register and login.

Need more Ft. Myers/Naples Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...