Precisely two songs are sung in Russ Long: A Tribute to Liberace. That doesn’t prevent this tribute from becoming one helluva cabaret show. Although Liberace was recognized as both garish showman and virtuoso pianist, he sang a little, too. Long has Liberace down to a tee. Both gents seem soft spoken, but once fingers and ivories meet, there’s fireworks. We get in the spirit the moment Long enters in the sequined cape. Underneath, there are the sequined trousers and the rhinestone piano key sparkling lapels. Long shares delightful anecdotes about his muse: Liberace fretted over the effect dancing fountains on stage might have on his club audiences. The music is grand, ranging from classical, to 16-to-the-bar boogie woogie, to a version of chopsticks with enough arpeggios to float the Queen Mary. Long ends the show with an improvised medley of Liberace songs called out by his enthusiastic audience. It’s a joy!

Carla Gordon
Cabaret Scenes
May 3, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org