Review: Rod Ferguson/'Some Others I've Seen: Stumbling Toward Love'

If you are looking for an evening of sheer joyful entertainment that will have you laughing out loud for almost seventy solid minutes, take yourself to see cabaret performer Rod Ferguson, who is performing the Boston premier of his cabaret show "Some Others I've Seen: Stumbling Toward Love" at the Napoleon Room at the Club Caf�, this October 19 and 26. His first show, this past Thursday, October 12, was sold out, and the room is small, so I suggest you order your tickets now. Word is getting out.

The evening is a mix of songs tied together by a series of hilarious stories that provide some insight into Ferguson's hapless search for romantic love. The songs, mostly from the 1940s, were specially chosen to keep with the WWII-era theme of this past summer's CabaretFest! Provincetown, where Furgeson premiered the show. The two that aren't from the '40s, "It's Not Unusual," delivered with a strong comic punch, and "My Guy," sung with a twist that culminates his journey toward love, but with an unexpected destination... himself, are well placed pop bookends for the show that maintain the upbeat mood that Ferguson is setting.

Ferguson has great stage presence that is anchored by his winning smile, and wide-eyed charm. He connects instantly with his audience through humor, one minute self-deprecating, and another minute self-congratulatory, endearing himself to the audience with each turn. His pleasant singing voice enables him to use both songs and stories as comic foils, and he takes no prisoners.

While no subject seems taboo, from stalking to spanking, Ferguson is capable of pushing at the edges of propriety without ever crossing the line. This is the kind of humor that delighted audiences for decades from burlesque to the Borscht Belt, but revived here with a gay sensibility, a deadpan delivery, and a wry wit that will delight you with unexpected turns of phrase, and clever physical comedy. Not since Danny Kaye and Dick Van Dyke have we seen such lovable musical comedy in a stand-up act. He has clearly learned a lot honing his craft under the wing of another master, John O'Neil, to whom Ferguson owes a great debt.

The show takes it's title from a lyric in the WWII standard "It Had to Be You" (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn), and Ferguson uses this song near the top of the show to remind us that he is serious about finding love, but only after a side-splitting delivery of "I Cain't Say No," that tells us exactly why it is so hard for him to find Mr. Right. Other classics like "This Can't Be Love", "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You," and "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" are sung with tongue stuck firmly in cheek, and to great comic effect. The way he turns the tables in "The Way You Look Tonight" had his musical director, Brian Patton quip, "Another good song ruined!" proving that Patton is as much a prized comic sidekick as an accompanist in this show.

The place where Ferguson's comic brilliance gets in the way is when he attempts to change gears, telling a story of growing up in homophobic Bermuda, or in his poignant ballads. I applaud him getting out of his comfort zone of comedy to be serious at key moments; in fact every good comedy act needs those moments. But he still has some work to do here. The serious moments sound scripted, not coming from his own voice, and thus lose the powerful emotional punch they are intended to have. Both "You'll Never Know" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (which includes a lush arrangement by Patton) were both well focused, but lacked authenticity. When Ferguson is able to connect with this material, watch out, because at that point, his shows will be some of the most powerfully entertaining shows around.

I have every confidence Ferguson will get there. I have been watching him from his early days, where he attended piano bars twice a week for what must be nearly 10 years, valiantly getting up to sing at open mics, until his confidence and poise in his singing matched his comic abilities. He has also been taking master classes with Marilyn Maye, who is just about the best in the business, and attending the St. Louis Cabaret Convention this past summer to study with Maye, and Broadway stars Faith Prince and Karen Mason. This work has served him well and will continue to do so.

Ferguson's show is well crafted, performed with a level of polish and sophistication surprising in someone just starting out in the business. His star is rising. Catch him now before it becomes out of reach.

Rod Ferguson performs "Some Others I've Seen: Stumbling Toward Love" again on October 19 and 26, 7 PM, at the Napoleon Room at the Club Caf�, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116. Tickets: $20. For reservations, call 617.536.0966 or visit the Club Caf� website.