News in Revue & The Capitol Steps
"News in Revue," Pittsfield, through 9/2
"Capitol Steps," Lenox, through 9/2
By Shera Cohen
For those who like current event reports somewhat edgy, oftentimes risque, and always humorous, audiences have two live performances to choose from this summer. Step away from TV's Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report for a few hours and enjoy both "News in Revue" and "Capitol Steps." Similar shows in style, music, and calibre of talent, one can never laugh enough at today's politics. Being a political contest year, each program had far too much material to pick from. Needless to say, Bush and Cheney were jabbed a lot.
"News" features a quartet and pianist. "Steps" has a quintet and pianist. Both take familiar songs ("News" uses a lot from the past decades; "Steps" from Broadway), add contemporary offbeat lyrics, odd costumes, clumsy props, and hideous hairdos to create excellent and very funny shows. Surprisingly, all of the comediens have good voices. It's surprising because that's not necessary for this.
"News" differs in that the sketches are longer, fewer, offer terrific choreography, end on a solemn note; and dinner is included. "Steps" gives its audiences more fast-paced vignettes, and has a gem of a segment as one of the actors speaks backwards. It's a challenge to understand at first, but catches on quickly and he had the audiences laughing in their rows.
"News" is in its new location at the Bousquet Ski Resort, Pittsfield, and "Steps" is in "News'" old location at the Cranwell Inn, Lenox. Both are easy to find, and worth the find.
"Capitol Steps," Lenox, through 9/2
By Shera Cohen
For those who like current event reports somewhat edgy, oftentimes risque, and always humorous, audiences have two live performances to choose from this summer. Step away from TV's Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report for a few hours and enjoy both "News in Revue" and "Capitol Steps." Similar shows in style, music, and calibre of talent, one can never laugh enough at today's politics. Being a political contest year, each program had far too much material to pick from. Needless to say, Bush and Cheney were jabbed a lot.
"News" features a quartet and pianist. "Steps" has a quintet and pianist. Both take familiar songs ("News" uses a lot from the past decades; "Steps" from Broadway), add contemporary offbeat lyrics, odd costumes, clumsy props, and hideous hairdos to create excellent and very funny shows. Surprisingly, all of the comediens have good voices. It's surprising because that's not necessary for this.
"News" differs in that the sketches are longer, fewer, offer terrific choreography, end on a solemn note; and dinner is included. "Steps" gives its audiences more fast-paced vignettes, and has a gem of a segment as one of the actors speaks backwards. It's a challenge to understand at first, but catches on quickly and he had the audiences laughing in their rows.
"News" is in its new location at the Bousquet Ski Resort, Pittsfield, and "Steps" is in "News'" old location at the Cranwell Inn, Lenox. Both are easy to find, and worth the find.
Labels: berkshires, capitol steps, misc, news in revue
