VIVA VARIETY! - Sometimes you just wonder why you waited so long to do
something. In this case, I can't for the life of me explain why STEVE
MURRAY's "Viva Variety 29" on Tuesday was my first. Murray has a generally
keen eye for spotting talent and this edition of his ongoing hommage to ED
SULLIVAN had some truly outstanding moments. Top of the list was AMY
BOYD, a lesbian comic who could give MARGARET CHO a refresher course on
discussing the perils of female physiology WHILE keeping it funny (think ROBIN
WILLIAMS as a cute, blond dyke). More laughs came courtesy of KAREN
QUEST, whose droll delivery evokes a countrified version of LILY TOMLIN's
Judith Beasley, and whose rope trick skills - yes, I said rope trick - suddenly make
a rodeo seem appealing. The other big delight was LUNATIQUE FANTASTIQUE
whose comic puppetry machinations with such ordinary "found" items as a sock, a
plastic cup and a few lengths of foam rubber are extraordinary. Just go see them
for yourself and you'll understand!!
The variety show format, like its long deceased cousin vaudeville, has its
perils. Murray has yet to engage in any stupid pet tricks, but to stay true
to the genre he has included acts that require a high level of skill to be
successful and really good ventriloquists, interpretive dancers, poets and
comedy troupes are getting harder and harder to find. There will never be a
shortage of singers however and honorable mention must go to COLEY
GRUNDMAN, a so-so balladeer, who found previously unmined comic depths in
JIMMY WEBB's opus "Macarthur Park." Proceeds from VV always benefit a
charity, in this case the Native American Health Center, and the next edition is
scheduled for November 26. Do go!