Rob Maitner's "Basket Case": my review — Page 5

jrb, I'm not even an afterthought yet alone a body part.

But I'm still waiting to hear if Robbie is taping the show (or if I have to look into outsourcing - with his permission of course) and if there's word of an extenstion.

And when is the next performance of "Basket Case" scheduled???

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work it!

everyone's gotta start somewhere

Pimps get a cut of the profits, right?
So who is going tomorrow?

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Kickin' and bumpin' and pimpin' this back to the first page...

GO SEE THIS SHOW!

Take your Mom!
It's a gift!

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Last call....

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And a big congrats to Robbie for a successful run.

Now, WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE?

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One last comment from me:

I have about two minutes to share something that occurred to me while I was (singing ) in the shower this morning. I was singing a song from Robbie's show, Hitchhiking Across America. It's a story song, of sorts. And in the telling of events that happened, one refers to being picked up by a truckdriver (I think) and having to "do what he had to do and get it done". I'm not clear on the exact wording, but the sentiment is there. Anyway I had the same response that occurred during the show. In that part of that song, more than once, I've had the thought "how hard it must be for Robbie's mom to hear that". And I didn't think that when he told the story about picking up the ToysRUs carney, or trying on mama's nylons, or any one of a number of other anecdotes he offered during the course of the show. And the difference is, now that I think of it, that line in the song, the guy was using him and treating him like he wasn't a person. The other events were of his choosing. And then, I understood that Robbie has the ability to sing his songs in ways that make me really take them to be *his* story. A gift, really.

Or maybe a curse, given some of the songs.... but still...

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Here is Rob's first print review...

from the NEXT magazine's David Hurst:

Also watch for the return of Rob Maitner's ridiculously fun Basket Case: A Singspiel for the Unhinged which recently concluded a sold-out engagement at The Duplex. A talented, award-winning performer who also happens to be crazily gay, Maitner's eclectic set channeled Janis Joplin via Judy Garland as he sang everything from Green Day to Hedwig, Fiona Apple and Dreamgirls. Amazingly, he made it all work with the help of musical director Ray Fellman, an audience ready for anything and one very large cocktail.

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"one very large cocktail."

I think that was edited for public consumption.

"one very large cocktail."

So is that one of those euphemisms? Sometimes I get confused.

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The first one is always free...

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And as talented and enjoyable he is in these cabaret shows I still shake my head wondering why and how is it that Rob Maitner has not be cast in something more notable. The man belongs on Broadway. He can do serious drama as deftly as he does musical comedy.

He has never failed to impress me in anything I've seen him in. (Those that know me, and those who have read me here, know that I don't impress easily.) His grasp and commitment to his craft have garnered my appreciation and respect. He gets it and I, for one, am thrilled by that. How often does a performer actually excite you?

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