Plea!

The cast of the 2010 Christmas Spirits  (photo by Bill Richert)

Last night about 900  CBA members, friends and family enjoyed an annual holiday treat – the CBA Christmas Spirits show.  This year’s offering is chock-full of talent.  My favorite numbers included a clever Asian Carp number, sung by Bob Canel (to Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea”), an Elvis Blago trial triptych featuring solos by Sam Adam (Corey Berman), Blago (Tony Calzaretta) and Pat Fitzgerald (Kevin Krantz, in a perfect “Elvis in Vegas” jumpsuit), torch song offerings by June Brown (as Oprah) and Kate Kelly (in a wonderful turn on Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” dedicated to Tiger Woods).

Our local politicians, as always, provided much of the fodder for the show.  In fact, Blago should get royalties for continuing to generate material for several years running! 

The cast is wonderfully talented, the spirit is high, and the laughs are many.  My thanks to Mary McNichols, Corey Berman and all the CBA members who put so much time into writing, directing and performing this show.  Special props to my two former partners, Ben Weinberg and Dan Hurtado, each appearing in his first Christmas Spirits, and each landing a featured singing role.  You do the Buster Cluster proud!

Buy a ticket and see Plea this week – the show runs through Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Merle Reskin Theatre.

I joined the cast for a number. At left in the brown sweater is the show's
co-writer Julian Frazin.  (photo by Bill Richert)