Urban Cowboys strikes me as a performance by six characters in search of a script. It’s a parade of country and western and a combination of both types of music followed by blending with pop and rock.
Tony Bruno on percussion, in a corner of a cramped stage remarkably like that of the Goldstein Cabaret, gives the only consistent performance in the show in this new, second FST cabaret. Emily Mikesell, excellent on the keyboard and prompting clapping with her singing “Queen of Hearts,” unfortunately has little to say except that she thinks Dolly Parton is the greatest. She’s capable of dialogue.
Guitarist Dominick Cicco, who frequently appears at FST to give a “mature” touch to musical proceedings, gets a few ballads to solo. He is subdued and effective with his sung narrative.
Eric Scott Anthony is more or less the emcee of the proceedings. He tries to emulate Johnny Cash. His best contribution is to “Island in the Stream” — the explanation that it was originally written by the Bee Gees for Marvin Gaye.
Connor Moore is young, nice looking, and plays piano well but is vocally weak. He does look good when paired with Sarah Jane Mellen, whose singing lacks everything but volume. She was last seen at FST in a forgettable performance in that musical about a juvenile spelling bee. Is she here because she looks like Gwyneth Paltrow (in “Country Strong”)?
Music Director Brett Schrier has seen to it that Dave Corsello’s sound engineering hasn’t drowned out the singers. Attempts at varying the draped background arch include changing colors along with having stars blinking within the curtained area and lights surrounding the arch blinking toward the end.
Everyone wears boots. Costumes are tacky. Stage direction seems to eschew movement. At least none of the performers bump into each other.
Urban Cowboys drew its share of yelps the night I attended this newly opened FST cabaret. It has the curiosity factor going for it since steady cabaret fans want to see what the new one is like. That the show doesn’t need a “good review” to draw full houses is evidenced by the fact that its stay has already been extended from March 20 to the end of that month.
