Ricky Ritzel

November 11, 2009

“Ricky Ritzel Has Hysterical Blondness”

Metropolitan Room  –  November 8, 12, 15, December 10, 16

The title of Ricky Ritzel’s new offering—his first solo show in donkey’s years—is “Ricky Ritzel Has Hysterical Blondness.” I don’t know whether his hair is genuinely blond—it would be ungentlemanly of me to attempt to get to the root of that question; however, I can say without qualification that he is genuinely hysterical. [I really don’t like using the word “hysterical” to mean causing hysteria—or, in this case, causing uncontrolled laughter—rather than to indicate someone who is suffering from hysteria; I’d prefer to use “hilarious.” Unfortunately, although the preferable term is an accurate characterization of the show, it wouldn’t jibe with the show’s title; what’s more, dictionaries now accept this use of “hysterical.” So I am relenting—but just this once.] Now, if you’re still with me… Co-written by Ritzel and Jim Luzar, who also directed, the show is a 50-50 mix of stand-up reminiscence and sit-down-at-the-piano song.

Ritzel regales us with recollections both personal and show-bizzy. Among the former: being taken at age 3 to see Children of the Damned, his first trip to New York, his marriage (to a woman) at a Catholic church in Pittsburgh on Yom Kippur, running over an alligator in a car, and witnessing a rat’s travail in the New York subway system in the rain. Showbiz stories include Arlene Francis’s comment on what language is permissible to use over the airwaves, Ethel Merman’s improbable instructions to her hairdresser, competing with Mitzi Gaynor in Peoria, traveling with Spider Saloff in a hired plane to get to a gig in Nebraska, performing at a celebrity-filled party at Mary Rodgers’s apartment, and his brush with Andy Warhol. Though occasionally a bit ragged, these scattershot anecdotes are very, very funny. Even those that may lack a punch line are in no way lacking in punch.

Songs include “Older Than, Younger Than,” a charming piece of special material written for Ritzel by Rick Crom; a robust rendition of Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer’s “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby”; and Bud McCreery’s “Guess Who Was There,” one of the delightful songs from the Julius Monk revues of blessed memory. Stan Daniels’s “The Butler’s Song” is surely one of the funniest songs every written, but on opening night, Ritzel didn’t set the song up clearly, and his rendition of a severely truncated version was not ready for prime time—both problems rectifiable. Ritzel’s own “The Advice Song” is intentionally rude and crude; however, to succeed it needs to be either more clever or more outrageous. After an hour of all but unbridled merriment, Ritzel closes with a heartfelt performance of Tom Waits’s tender “Rainbow Sleeves.” Nice touch.

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About the Author

Roy Sander has been covering cabaret and theatre for over thirty years. He’s written cabaret and theatre reviews, features, and commentary for seven print publications, most notably Back Stage, and for CitySearch on the Internet. He covered cabaret monthly on “New York Theatre Review” on PBS TV, and cabaret and theatre weekly on WLIM-FM radio. He was twice a guest instructor at the London School of Musical Theatre. A critic for BistroAwards.com, he is also the site’s Reviews Editor; in addition, he is Chairman of the Advisory Board of MAC.