Village Players Theatre photo Bars: The Girl on the Piano… featuring Lisa Zane September 14-30 review by Ed Vincent Lisa Zane is a marvel, a talented, multi-gifted performer, with a sensuous sirens draw, so all the more fitting in a bar. Ms. Zane sings in several different languages, and all with incredible precision and flair.  I loved all of her songs and was impressed with her Montmartre songs of a hundred years ago being sung with the power and speed of a Francophiles best dream.  Her singing of "Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma", by Tomas Mendes, was beautiful and inspiring with each vocal undulation snaking the melody right to your heart. This long legged performer is a treat for either Francophile or Philistine, and her songs to another woman will get the sophisticated sapphist to sit straight up. The musical journey of the show is a spectacle of drama featuring great instrumentals, singing, lights, sets, and costumes suited for each click of the forward clock.  The setting is warm and inviting and if it had been a real bar would have sold drinks for hours.  I wanted a Long Island Ice Tea after the first two songs.   The intimacy and sets of the newly refinished Village Players Theatre is welcome environment for this treat for the senses. Ms. Zane has an album out that has only a few of the songs in this show, but the album and the show are a must see and hear for all lovers and devotees of the cabaret genre. Village Players Theatre of Oak Park 1010 W. Madison St. 866-764-1010 Bars: The Girl on the Piano… featuring Lisa Zane September 14-30 Friday/Saturdays 8:00 p.m. Sundays 3:00 p.m. Tickets $25 ($20 senior) Have a listen, get her album and don't miss the show. http://www.LisaZane.com   Lighting Designer: Benjamin Scott-Hopkins has been designing theatrical lighting in Chicago, but this is his first Village Players production. He values Truth and Beauty above all things   Scenic Artist: John List   SCENES Prologue 1. Montmartre 1910 2. Berlin 1933 3. Cadiz 1950 4. New York 1967 5. Hollywood 1972 6. Present Day 7. Present Day 8. Present Day MUSIC The Girl on the Piano by Lisa Zane Trois Mouvements Perpetuelles lll. Alerte by Francis Poulenc Boulevard de Crime by  Michel Rivgauche/Claude Leveillee Je MʼEnnui by Camille Francois/Wal Berg Surabaya Johnny by Brecht/Weill Bambuquisimio by Recoveco Volver by Carlos Gardel/Alfredo le Pera Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma by Tomas Mendes Bluesette by Toots Thielemans Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite by The Beatles I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out by Johnny Frigo/Lou Carter/Herb Ellis Small Day Tomorrow by Bob Dorough Cock-eyed Optimist by Rogers and Hammerstein Celebrity Skin by Hole Elysium by Portishead How the Dark Illuminates/A Serenata de Pulcinella by Lisa Zane/ Robert Muorolo Hot Kiss by Lisa Zane The Man That Got Away by Harold Arlen/Ira Gershwin Night Life by Willie Nelson   POEMS ʽPoisonʼ by Charles Baudelaire, performed by Robert Andrews ʽWe Real Coolʼ by Gwendolyn Brooks, performed by ʽResumeʼ by Dorothy Parker, performed by the author, excerpted from Poetry Speaks ʽAloneʼ by Edgar Allen Poe, performed by Marianne Faithful, excerpted from Poeʼs   Tales (Closed on Account of Rabies)   ARTWORK Lapin Agile by Picasso Paris Party by Max Beckmann Number 8 by Jackson Pollack The Crow by James OʼBarre   Acknowledgements Scene 6 courtesy of Candace Kane David Knezz New World Repertory Theater Columbia College Chicago Theatre of Western Springs    Village Players Theatre photo Bars: The Girl on the Piano… featuring Lisa Zane September 14-30 Friday/Saturdays 8:00 p.m. Sundays 3:00 p.m. Tickets $25 ($20 senior) Opening celebration on Sept. 16, $30 ($25 senior) Matinee Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 1:00 p.m., $19 Adult material. Village Players Theatre of Oak Park 1010 W. Madison St. 866-764-1010   Television/film actor and international cabaret singer Lisa Zane teams with keyboardist/arranger Andrew Chukerman to celebrate the hub of human socializing: the pub, saloon, ratskellar, dive…the bar! Television/film actor and international cabaret singer Lisa Zane teams with composer/arranger Andrew Chukerman to celebrate the hub of human socializing: the pub, saloon, ratskellar, dive…the bar!  This unique performance event is more than a traditional cabaret, making the most of the venue of a full theatre in the newly renovated Village Players space in Oak Park.  Bars: The Girl on the Piano was commissioned by VPT to open their new season with a new type of endeavor that suits their new look.  A lot of “newness” going on, but one thing that isn’t new is the name of Zane. The Zanes are a Chicago performing family in the same vein as the Cusacks and Pivens. Brother Billy spent time being Charmed on the Titanic, and sister Lisa stepped out at the Goodman, used to practice L.A. Law, found a bit of Bad Influence, sang in Montparnasse (ah, Paris!) and keeps moving to bigger things.  One of those things is this most recent project.  Bars: the Girl on the Piano is more than the iconic title implies; with composer/arranger Andrew Chukerman (celebrated keyboardist and arranger for Rod Stewart and Carly Simon), Zane concocts a series of vignettes exploring and celebrating the hub of human socializing: the pub, saloon, ratskellar, dive…the bar.  With poetry, classical music clips, torch songs and almost head-banging rock, portraits of many girls on many pianos emerge. It’s a world tour of sound and situation; a psychological survey of the saloon siren. Music director/arranger Andrew Chukerman is also a Chicago son who has made a mark in his industry.  Local audiences may have seen his recent project The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea at Ravinia last year.  Lovers of American standards will be familiar with his work as Rod Stewart’s and Carly Simon’s arranger on recent recordings.  For Bars, Chukerman arranges several of the original songs by Ms. Zane. This experience of live music by solid Chicago jazz, rock, classical and flamenco musicians is a rare treat.  Save the price of downtown parking and enjoy a truly eclectic entertainment in homey and historic Oak Park.  Bars: The Girl on the Piano previews September 14 and 15, opens with a celebration reception on Sunday, September 16, and continues through September 30 on the Mainstage at VPT.  The production plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.  General admission tickets are $25, with a discounted price of $20 available for seniors.  Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.  Tickets for the opening celebration on September 16 are $30 and $25 for seniors, and include beverages and food at the reception afterwards.  There is a special matinee on Wednesday, September 19, at 1:00 p.m. (perhaps a great getaway for “desperate house-spouses”!). Matinee tickets are $19 and also include an after-show reception.  Tickets are available either at the box office (866-764-1010) or through the web at www.village-players.org.  This Village Players’ production is directed by Alison Henderson, with scenic design by R. J. Ogren.  Lighting is by Andrew Glasenhardt, costumes by Julie Suarez, sound by John List and prop design by Jon van Lulling.  Music director/pianist Andrew Chukerman leads guitarists Kevin Conlin and Chris Zamora, Larry Mileska on horns, Joe Nuccio on bass and Devoney Dean on drums. The renovated home of Village Players Theatre is at 1010 W. Madison Street in Oak Park.  Plenty of free street parking is available, and the theatre is accessible.  Please phone to verify accessible arrangements.  Bars: The Girl on the Piano is conceived for adult audiences; there may be language and situations unsuitable for sensitive viewers.  Mainstage subscription packages for the 2007-2008 season are available through September 30.

Village Players Theatre is a non-equity professional 
theater located in Oak Park, IL at 1010 W. Madison St – 
North of 290 and East of Harlem Ave.

www.village-players.org