By Peter Thomas Ricci<\/p>\n
\u201cJacques Brel\u2019s Lonesome Losers of the Night,\u201d the original musical revue from Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, was nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Musical in 2008 after its original run, and it is a distinct gift to Chicago theater audiences that Theo Ubique has remounted the wonderful production now in 2017.<\/p>\n
Set in a shabby bar at the Port of Amsterdam, \u201cLonesome Losers\u201d weaves a loose narrative around the delightful songs of Jaques Brel, a Belgium-born singer\/songwriter whose \u201cchanson,\u201d or, lyric-driven songs, made him a star in Europe in the \u201860s and \u201870s. So like \u201cAin\u2019t Misbehavin\u2019,\u201d the raucous tribute to Fats Waller, the material of \u201cLonesome Losers\u201d was not originally written for a musical; rather, working with top-notch translations from Arnold Johnston (Brel\u2019s lyrics were originally in French), director Fred Anzevino has crafted a show with four performers \u2013 a woman, two sailors, and a bartender \u2013 whose characteristics and motivations all stem from the themes of love, loss, and isolation in Brel\u2019s songwriting. There is no dialogue \u2013 the narrative is propelled by Brel\u2019s lyrics and unspoken interactions between songs \u2013 and it is thrilling to watch Theo Ubique\u2019s cast perform more than 20 of Brel\u2019s songs in a taut 90-minute production.<\/p>\n
And what a cast! As the two sailers, Neil Stratton and David Moreland perform their material with equal parts bravado and sensitivity, their rich tenors easily filling the small cabaret space; indeed, their duet of Brel\u2019s \u201cMy Childhood\u201d may be the finest musical moment in the whole production. As the woman, Jill Sesso is deliciously sassy, stomping her way through the material with a big voice and charisma to spare. And as the bartender, baritone Randolph Johnson is a sheer delight, with his rich voice and warm mannerisms bringing true soul to Brel\u2019s words (his renditions of \u201cThe Song of Jacky\u201d and \u201cThose People\u201d are absolute highlights).<\/p>\n
Furthermore, as with Theo Ubique\u2019s other productions, it is exciting watching the company, under the direction of Anzevino, navigate No Exit\u2019s intimate performing space. David Heimann\u2019s choreography is spry and engaging, but never obvious; Adam Veness\u2019 scenic design and James Kolditz\u2019s lighting transport the audience to a late-night, damp, shabby port town bar; and Jeremy Ramey\u2019s music direction (complemented by his very<\/i> lively piano playing) brings rich aplomb to Brel\u2019s material.<\/p>\n
At its best, musical theater offers pleasures that no other performing medium can, and \u201cLonesome Losers\u201d is very much a part of that most excellent tradition.<\/p>\n
Highly Recommended<\/b><\/p>\n
Presented through August 6 by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Avenue, Chicago<\/b><\/p>\n