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Show Review: 'Back to the Soft Rock' at The Triple Door...Saturday, October 10th (Video and Photos)
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Mark Siano and the "Freedom Dancers" took fans on a journey back to the 80's as they performed several shows at "The Triple Door" this past weekend.. Photo: Stephen Vest
By Greg Roth SME / SMI
It’s his stage, his dancers, his band, his show and his rules. The definition for “Soft Rock” is darn well whatever Mark Siano says it is.
The multi talented entertainer brought his newest incarnation in the “Soft Rock series" to The Triple Door this past weekend for several incredible shows. The audience came to laugh, sing and be entertained… Siano, along with the inimitable “Freedom Dancers”, delivered the goods. No one left the building without a smile on their face, not humming some 80's tune.
About "Back to the Soft Rock"
The production was part cabaret, part musical, part variety show and part concert. "Soft Rock" is an amazing "tour de' force" for Siano and his troupe. 'Soft Rock" contained some fun sketch comedy and monologues but the show really came to life during the musical numbers which consisted of several hit soft rock songs from the 80’s, along with a few 70’ numbers thrown in for good measure.
The story line was a bit difficult for this writer to follow so attempting to describe the plot line would be an exercise in futility for those that were not able to attend the show in person. It can be said that the premise of the story line is that it very is loosely based on the iconic 80’s , movie “Back to the Future” theme, using a phone booth , fixed up to look like a Delorean DMC 12, as the time travel mechanism.
Siano is the central character in the story line and somehow he must go back to the future along with Doctor Emmett Lathrop "Doc" Brown (see movie), to save soft rock and by doing away with “John Mayer” and “Vanilla Ice”, whom Siano’s character holds responsible for the deterioration and demise of the genre that he holds near and dear to his heart. The reality, is that the story and the plot line does not make or break the show. The story is simply there to provide context, a blue print and structure for the show stopping music and dance numbers. The highlights of the show were the the musical and dance numbers, with the comedy pieces used more for the “tee up”. The numbers seemed as if they were comedic music videos brought to life on stage. Featured comedians: Luke Thayer and David Swidler also added to the comedy sketches playing various characters including "The Doc".
The Show (1st Act)...
The show opens with fun and rousing medley of 80’s and 70’s numbers that include, “September” (Earth Wind and Fire), “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (Wang Chung), “Always Something There to Remind Me” (Naked Eyes), “White Wing Dove” (Stevie Nicks), “All Night Long”(Lionel Richie),"Only Gets Better" (Howard Jones). The eclectic melody, that featured Siano and the "Freedom Dancers" electrified the live audience and set the tone and energy for the rest of the evening.
After the opening number, Siano then proceeded to have a sexy conversation with a very sexy grand piano (The voice of the piano was done of stage) Siano explains the importance of a music bridge to a great soft rock song. Siano describes it as this: “A bridge is like the soft part in the middle of an “Oreo cookie”. To which the voice of piano replied: “double stuffed” which obviously, was a suggestive double entendre’ One can't be certain if that is what Siano's character meant while giving the analogy but ceratinly, the piano had other things on her mind. Siano then sat down at the piano to sing another Howard Jones song, “No One is to Blame”.
After that, he goes into a song that he wrote entitled “Don’t Touch My Nipples” (we don’t make this stuff up). During the number Siano is in the process of establish sexual boundaries between himself and his new girlfriend. This guy has some serious issues. Siano croons to his partner that she has "carteblanch" to go where no woman has gone or would not want to go before but his nipple area is specifically off limits. “They stiffen with fear if your lips come near.” Siano sings and the audience lauphs.
After the piano number, a contraption that was the cross between a phone booth and Delorian automobile materialized on stage as part of the story line. The troupe and band then kick into the Huey Lewis, 80’s hit from the movie, Back to the Future, “The Power of Love”.
After a funny sketch about John Mayer, “The Comfort Band” performed the Styx Classic, "Come Sail Away". Rick Miller handled the vocal chores on this number and performed the song superbly. Obviously, "Come Sail Away" is from the 80’s but because of the time travel story line in which Siano travels back to the 70’s. (Like it was stated, the story line is not important here). Siano then launched into his “soft rock god". monologue delivered with all the superficial, smarmy 80’s attitude that Siano could muster. While on stage, Siano’s character truly believes that he is the coolest dude on the planet and if you don’t get him or the whole soft rock doctrine, it is you... that is truly a loser.
The first act closes with a show stopping number, featuring the very dynamic and talented Joanna Hardie on lead vocals. Hardie serves as the troupe "dance captain" and collaborates with the other dancers and Siano to come up with the numbers for the show (Video of some of the dancers and quotes from Hardie are in the second video below). Hardie delivered an emotional and electrifying version of “What a Feeling” from another iconic 80’s movie “Flashdance".
Hardie’s command of the stage was very powerful but she soon relinquish center stage to Siano, who hit the stage dressed in full Jennifer Beals regalia, which included dance leotards and a curly haired wig. (How does a fellow cast mate compete with that?), including the welders mask similar to what Beals wore in the film. Siano gyrated across the stage with the rest of the troupe and at the end of the number reenacted Beals famous dance scene from “Flashdance” in which with the male star is stretched over a chair and getting doused with water dropped from a cast member from the drum riser. The audience roared with applause and approval.
The 2nd Act....
The second act starts out with the INXS hit “Need you Tonight”. Rick Miller returns to perform a spot on version Steve Perry’s (Journey), 80’s hit “Oh Sherry”. Siano then performs an inspiring and big version of Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die”.
Siano then takes time out to give the audience a lecture or dissertation of what soft rock really is. Is it Styx? Is it Foreigner? Is it Journey? It was said, before and let it be said again, the fact is this; soft rock is whatever the heck Mark Siano says it is. “I am the parent in this relationship” Siano told his audience, as he described his intimate connection to his favorite guilty pleasure. Once again... his stage, his dancers, his band, his show and his rules. Since they are his rules he can break them and break them he did as he then launched into a "Bell Biv DeVoe's" classic, “Poison”.
Siano ended the show with an amazing show stopping rendition of "Queen’s" classic "Bohemian Rhapsody', which "The Comfort Band" and "Elegant Catastrophe Singers" performed with precision. Having no less than 6 backing singers, made it possible for the performance to include the trademark background harmonies that set "Queen" apart from its contemporaries back in the day. Siano doesn’t quite have the presence or range of the late Freddie Mercury (really... who does?) but the song really resonated emotionally with this writer and the sold out house at the Triple Door. It was a fitting way to end an original, entertaining and irreverent show.
Why the show works...
Once of the primary reasons that the musical numbers worked so well was because of the amazing backing musician corps under the musical direction of John Kranz (keyboards). “The Comfort Band” (Jason Boller (drums), "Skinny" Lynn Cook (trombone), Darryl Estes (alto and tenor sax), Dan Leary (bass), Tony "Goomba" Grasso (Trumpet), and Katherine Moore (guitar) and the “Elegant Catastrophe Singers” (Carilyn Fukura, Brian Kinyon, Scotto Moore, Jenny Rooke, Gina Russell, Katie Wallace) made the numbers pop, and really fill up the space at the "Triple Door".
Siano, who is considered more of a sketch and standup comedian than a singer handles the vocal duties well enough. The vocal quality and range are not this performers strengths. What are his greatest strengths are some elements previously mentioned, his comedic timing, his ability to sell what are perceived to be some of the cheesiest songs ever written to make it to disc and charismatic stage presence, with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Aside from being a very talented performer, one has to laud Siano’s willingness to artistic risks. One minute he is dressed up like Jennifer Beals, the next he is donning “sparkletards” (leotards with a lot of sparkles see video).Siano struts the stage, bare chested, revealing a slight paunch while wearing the Freddie Mercury inspired black and white leotard that the late singer made famous on the "Queen" “Night at the Opera Tour”. Like Mercury in the past, Siano is there to sell you his body and then throw in his soft rock philosophy as part of the package (no pun intended).
The irony in Siano's performance, is that he is able to play a character that knows or at least thinks he is cooler than you and perhaps he is. This in turn, makes the character look a little foolish, yet smooth and likable. It is impressive that Siano has the confidence to play this character in such a self deprecating way. In other words, Siano, unlike the character he plays, does not take himself that seriously. He gets the joke and it is not on him, he is just in on it, just like the audience is. This is part of what makes the comedy sketches work and what endears Siano and his brand of comedy to the audience.
Dance, be free...
Besides Siano’s sincerity and likability, one of the biggest reasons’s the show works as a faux musical, is the “Freedom Dancers” themselves. If the Siano is the spiritual leader of the show, then the "Freedom Dancers" are its heart and soul. The attractive and sexy troupe consists of 7 females and one male member and they are: Joey Chapman, Abigail Guay, Joanna Hardie, Ali Ormiston, Jaime Roberts, Lieta Siano, Mark Siano, and Mara Siciliano. The members of the troupe move and glide in tandem with ease and an innocent and playful sensuality.
The choreographed moves that the troupe display throughout the show, are not extremely complex but the show is not about technical chops. It is about spirit and attitude. The dance movement was interesting, charming and a perfect fit for the musical numbers. The dance troupe works very well in conjunction with the music. What also works effectively, is the chemistry and interaction between the cast members. One can't fake that it is either there or it is not.
The ensemble were not just up on the stage to work. On the contrary, their performance reminds one of childhood friends, getting together to enjoy each other's company and celebrate love and life through music and dance. The stage is simply their playground. The "Freedom Dancers" were indeed having "the time of their lives", as they took the audience right along with them on the ride. “Back to the Soft Rock” is a highly interactive show. The audience sings along and it is not uncommon for audience members to shout up to the performers on stage while they are in mid monologue.
Closing thoughts...
"Soft Rock" is a total sonic, visual and comedic assault on the senses, not to mention one’s intelligence. In other words, the show is fun, frivolous and highly entertaining. "Back to the Soft Rock" is not the type of musical theatre for one's own enlightenment. Like perhaps the 80's itself, the show is about entertainment, escapism and good times.
If one is longing for the days of big hair, cheesy clothes and cheesy soft rock music then buy the ticket and take the ride. It will take you back to the pre-information age and to a time where maybe life was a little crazier, simpler and a little less complicated. For this writer this show was a nice respite from reality or perhaps a friendly reminder of how reality used to be and perhaps could be again, if we would all just, like Frankie said back in the 80's, "Relax", have a little fun and not take life or ourselves for that matter, too seriously.
Exclusive Video....
Seattle Local Music Examiner / Insider had the opportunity to go back stage and interview Mark Siano and some of the Freedom Dancers. The videos also include some video footage of the show and dancers right before they are preparing to go on to perform, enjoy...
Additional Sources and Links:
Mousse Alert...It's back to the 80's as "Soft Rock" returns to the Triple Door this weekend
Freedom Dancers Facebook Fan Page
Come follow on TWITTER or...Join on FACEBOOK
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