If you want a seriously good laugh, go see Carly Sakolove in I Hear Voices.  In 60 minutes and 14 songs, she does uncanny vocal impersonations of well-known divas.  She does them so well, that, if you closed your eyes, you honestly believed the “real McCoy” to be singing.

The show follows the story of a woman who goes to her shrink because, as the title says, she hears voices.  The therapy session begins with Sakolove singing “Twisted” as herself, but soon the voices appear, as she morphs into Judy Garland for “Over the Rainbow” and them seamlessly into Idina Menzel for “Defying Gravity.”  The parody version of “Some People” is hilarious, as Liza asks her mom for 88 bucks for skates.  She’s desperate to find some cute boys who complement her outfits – the kind you want to marry…and marry…and marry…..

There’s really no end to the humor and send-ups.  In addition to the above, she covers Stritch, Peters, LuPone, Channing, Adele, Zeta-Jones, Dench, and many more.  “Anything Goes” and “I’m Still Here” are both true tours de force, and “Losing my Mind” is simply hysterical, although I had to keep saying to myself, “poor Bernadette….” “As If We Never Said Goodbye” ends the therapy session, where Sakolove returns to herself.

Sakolove gained fame with her YouTube video of “Send in the Clowns,” which she does live – another comic masterpiece.

The show is deftly directed by Bill Russell, who also co-wrote the script and parody lyrics.  Dan Micciche on piano keeps the pace going throughout.

Carly continues at The Duplex on June 21 and 29.  Keep a lookout for more dates on what I expect will become a cult classic.

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
June 4, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org