A Prairie Home Companion’creator and radio talk show host, Garrison Keillor, can now add another notch in his belt as baritone singer of songs of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and, yes, Elvis, at Feinstein’s where he opened to a sold out room.  The show’s title is accurate as Keillor comfortably seats himself on a stool, in the ballroom, wearing tux, red tie, red sneakers and red socks. Oh, and with Richard Dworsky on piano, the title is complete. Perhaps "Renaissance Man" would more accurately describe Keillor, a humorist, writer of satirical commentary, author of many books and story teller extraordinaire.

“Let's Do It, (Let’s Fall in Love)” has always had lots of interesting lyrics, but now has the Keillor special edition as he sings "Episcopalians, Baptists, Lutherans can be forced if no one’s around"or "even Westside Democrats do it…" Keillor tells the story of his performance honoring Irving Berlin at Carnegie Hall sometime ago and sharing a dressing room with Ray Charles as well as observing Sinatra in his loneliness of celebrity in not having the benefit of ordinary conversation. He relives the experience singing the song he presented at that tribute, “All Alone.”

Launching into satirical sonnets, lyrics take on a different feel: “my eyes get misty when I think of Julie Christie” and “I would sure be pissed if I would have been an atheist.” Presenting his guest artist, Inga Swearinger, a young Swedish gal whom he’s promoting, they duet on several songs, “The Water Is Wine,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’" and a Fanny & Alexander movie song in Swedish, as well as Berlin’s “What’ll I Do” and Elvis favorite “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”  Keillor has a soft voice that can be rather pleasing and he’s especially proficient at harmony. She solos as a jazz/scat singer with a good feel for the genre.

He has amusing comments about how welcoming New York is: you can talk to yourself and walk down the street in your pajamas, making a fashion statement, or weep in the subways, although someone may offer you their medications. Ah, the absurdities of real life situations!

If you’re a Keillor fan and need a "Lake Wobegon" fix, there are two additional dates remaining at Feinstein’s – Sunday evenings December 21^st and December 28^th.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
December 7, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org