The Cabaret: Christine Pedi

If you conjure up an image of a New York penthouse apartment, complete with a polished piano, chandelier and several dozen friends invited over for cocktails and frivolity, then you have just imagined the setting for Christine Pedi's Great Dames at The Cabaret at The Columbia Club.
Fooled into expecting a singer to imitate several divas from Broadway fame, the audience was clearly snookered.
We were tricked into believing we were there to see a regular singer, imitating other, better singers. Not even close.
False advertising, you could call it, actually. Should those in attendance request a refund of money spent?
Absolutely not.
In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if several offered to pay twice the ticket price for the sheer enjoyment of the high-quality show.
This lady is more than just a regular singer.
She's a kitten with claws, a polished performer and a diva in her own right. The show wasn't just an offering of a singer imitating others. It was two shows in one: comedy act and musical concert.

Only a truly powerful and gifted singer could make her way through the list of tunes Pedi breezed through. Spoonful of Sugar, Funny Girl, Trolley Song, When You're Good to Mama, Nothing like a Dame and Lady is a Tramp are a few of the choice numbers.
Looking as comfortable as if lounging in her own skyscraper dwelling, the comedienne and impressionist delighted the crowd with her version of several divas from throughout time.
The elegant surroundings could not curb the feisty nature of the New Yorker. Vamping it up with her rendition of Barbra Streisand, Liza Minelli, Julie Andrews and Judy Garland, the songstress played with the audience like a kitten with a ball of string. Tossing us this way and that, we rolled through many years worth of music on Broadway.
When not wowing crowds with her musical and comedic abilities, Pedi hosts Broadway Breakfast Daily on Sirius/XM radio. Along with her pianist, arranger, and sometimes backup singer, Matthew Ward, Pedi circles the globe performing in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
Bottom Line: Christine Pedi spreads her own delicious brand of sass and brass without reservation; after all, this lady is not just a tramp, she's also a diva.
Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93.1 WIBC and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and at gottago.us. Comments can be sent to elizabeth@gottago.us.

Gotta Go is published in M magazine and the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Photo credit: Mark A. Lee www.GreatExposures.net

For schedule, ticket and details, visit thecabaret.org
For information about the performer, visit christinepedi.com

A Day at the Indiana State Fair including Jeff Dunham

A day at the Indiana State Fair, for some, is an annual event. I had not been in about 20 years. I know; I was long overdue. Being asked to judge the Backyard BBQ Cook-off, sponsored by Shoup's, and review Jeff Dunham's performance for the same day seemed like a higher power giving a little push.

So I went.

Alongside of me, judging four hours worth of pork hog burgers, ribs and loin, shrimp and vegetables were Reid Duffy (Duffy's Diner) and Chef Thomas England, who is also a sommelier. I was in good company.

After eating for four straight hours, there was only one thing I wanted to do...that's right, hit the strip for fair food. Hey, it'd been awhile. First, I got a couple of old standbys, the elephant ear and the pineapple whip ice cream, and then headed over for deep-fried butter.

Yes, it really was butter; frozen, dipped in funnel cake batter, dropped in hot oil and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. It tasted exactly like french toast without syrup.

Amelia Rettig, a third-grader at New Britton Elementary, dug in and enjoyed it, also. (see left photo)

Taking to the grandstand stage was Jeff Dunham, master ventriloquist and comedian. With millions of Youtube hits, DVD sales and sell-out performances around the world, Dunham continues to delight audiences with his "friends," Walter, Peanut, Jose Jalepeno, Bubba and Achmed.

Achmed, the terrifying terrorist, has scored the most popular spot with fans, usurping grump Walter for the title.

Guitar Guy provided opening entertainment for Dunham and company, and re-appeared to help during the show.

Walter garnered the most laughs when a live train happened along, right in the middle of his routine. Twice.

I am a fan of Dunham but was more than a little surprised when the characters dotted the performance heavily with sexual innuendos and outright vulgarities. Keep that in mind if you are considering taking the kids.

Overall, the day was great with memories of my childhood days of 4-H projects due to the fair, junk food and the midway.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93.1 WIBC and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and at gottago.us. Comments can be sent to elizabeth@gottago.us.

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter, Fortville-McCordsville Reporter, and Indiana Weekender

Photo credits:
Mark Lee www.GreatExposures.net
PLR photography