Review: How To Be Perfect

See what the critics are raving about...

- Peter Leavy, Cabaret Scenes
- Michael Dale, BroadwayWorld.com
- Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline Online
- Naila Francis, The Intelligencer (in PDF)

Peter Leavy, Cabaret Scenes

Troubled by the state of the world? Disgruntled over election results? Wondering how soon they'll ship your job to a third-world country? Here's a temporary but effective way to pull your spirits up: head for Don't Tell Mama to catch Brian Tom O'Connor and Debra Vogel's musical comedy cabaret show, How to be Perfect. With a whimsical slant on everything they touch on and sing about -- from love to cell phones, Palm Pilots and back again -- it will take special effort to not be uplifted, delighted and impressed with the comedic and showbiz savvy of these two performers.

They've got a cleverly-selected songbook that moves the show along on overdrive, chock full of grade-A material from Porter to Mercer and equally enjoyable tunes from lesser-known songsmiths. The rendition of Jonathan Larson's Therapy from tick, tick, Boom! is an especial treat. The entire show, by the way, is performed sans microphones, a perfect match to the intimacy of the room.

Credit also to Musical Director Darryl Curry and Director Elfin Frederick. Nora Brown's musical staging polished the apple, while tech director Bobby Kneeland added just the right touch to the lighting. Most of all, O‘Connor and Vogel are naturals, an ingratiating antidote to letting reality get you down. Go! [Back to Top]

Michael Dale, BroadwayWorld.com

As soon as I glanced over the song list for their cabaret show, How To Be Perfect, I knew Brian Tom O'Connor and Debra Vogel were my kinda people. With more than half their selections coming from flop or otherwise obscure musicals such as Tovarich, So Long, 174th Street and Dance a Little Closer, I took my first sips of vodka martini anticipating a welcome evening with seldom-heard friends.

O'Connor and Vogel are not the type of performers you normally have in mind when you think of New York cabaret. They're musical comedy character actors; a tall, husky, sweet-faced fellow with a light baritone and a graceful stride paired with a brash, curvy belter with that funny outer-boroughs ethnic charm. Picture a 1960's television special starring Jackie Gleason and Nancy Walker and you'll get an idea of the dynamic between these two talented clowns and the style of show they present.

How To Be Perfect spoofs self-help gurus who preach the dos and don't of successful relationships. From the pangs of love at first sight (Lee Pockriss and Anne Croswell's "Uh-Oh!"), to awkward first phone calls with prospective internet dates (Stan Daniels' "It's Like"), to the importance of mutual communication (Jonathan Larson's "Therapy"), the duo uses theatre songs (sans microphones, by the way) as examples of the pitfalls and pleasures of romance...

Highlights include O'Connor as a sleazy pick-up artist winking his way through Charles Strouse and Lee Adam's "The Woman For The Man" and a rousingly funny rendition of Stan Daniel's "You," a song that combines every standard love song title imaginable. ("You were meant for me / Just tea for two and two for tea / You're the cream in my coffee / You are my lucky star / The dearest things I know are what you are") But the two are at their best when they get to show off their acting chops in the Tom Jones / Harvey Schmidt musical scene "Nobody's Perfect" from I Do! I Do!. This extended sequence, originally performed by the likes of Mary Martin and Robert Preston, is now given a fresh, lowbrow spin.

But the main point of How To Be Perfect is to deliver the laughs, and that's what O'Connor and Vogel do best. They're a lovable pair of old-style musical comedy comics with excellent taste in lesser known showtunes. [Back to Top]

Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline Online

On Saturday, I was back at DON'T TELL MAMA for Brian Tom O'Connor and Debra Vogel's musical comedy revue "How To Be Perfect." I saw and enjoyed their previous cabaret show, "Guy & Doll," and was even more entertained by this one. With a bunch of medleys by musical director Darryl Curry and some clever musical staging by Nora Brown, the show is filled with songs and stories (and a little dancing) that explains just what it takes to be perfect - especially in matters of the heart.

The songs are terrific - this is the type of revue that in the old days would have the songwriters from Tin Pan Alley sending in submissions. True fun from beginning to end. [Back to Top]