  The Gerry Steinfeld Show cast. |
Usually there's no point in making something out of nothing. Or better yet, making a cheeseball musical out of a damn good sitcom about nothing.
Yet, somehow, Celebrations manages to pull off a total mockery of the over-syndicated TV gem that is Seinfeld and, somehow, my date (D8) and I found it rather amusing.
As usual, this delight had little to do with the night's menu, which kicked off with a creamy mushroom soup served by none-other-than the Soup Nazi himself.
Thoroughly impressed with the broth, D8 dared to ask Soup Nazi (Brad Duffy) for more. To our surprise, the expected, "No soup for you!" was a much weaker, "You'll have to ask your server."
Turns out there was no soup for us anyway, so we had to settle for a plate of The Big Salad. The vinaigrette-drizzled greens didn't live up to their name but they were topped with enough red cabbage to impress even my Baba.
Minutes later, we're whisked off to Gerry's Snack and Giggle Comedy Club, where the jokes are meaningless and the songs are completely out of place. Case in point: Corey Hart's Sunglasses at Night. The opening track was, however, a fine excuse to introduce the cast as slick, shade-wearing gyrators.
Segmented by Seinfeld's signature bass riffs, Celebrations' rendition sees Gerry (Peter Bass) yukking things up at his club, Elaine Venice (Julia Sunay) pulling drama queen because Gerry forgot her birthday, George Cadenza (Cory Hicks) pulling drama king because his parents Estelle and Frank (Leeanne McLim and Brad Duffy) are convinced he's gay, Cosmo Krainer (Justin Deveau) being Cosmo Krainer and, sadly, no Newman.
The main course was even spicier than Act 1 -- crazy-spicy in my case. The Fatigues -- grilled chicken with sweet-hot chili sauce, seasoned spuds and broccoli -- was cooked to perfection, but packed a hard-to-digest heat. D8 was silent while inhaling The Maid (same dish with prime rib), and that's a good thing. But our meal wasn't complete without The Maestro. Slyly dubbed after an episode about coffee, this Crown Royal shot was just what we needed to prep for Act 2.
With only partial thanks to the bevvies, the part deux was chock full of hokey hilarity and a refreshingly modern soundtrack, including Elaine's solo version of Natalie Imbruglia's Torn and George's pop singing -- and enacting -- Bloodhound Gang's raunchy Discovery Channel ode, The Bad Touch.
After an ueberswanky Snickers bar dessert (consumed with fork and knife, of course), the tunefest resumed. We're impressed when Krainer gets some deserved face time and not-so-psyched when Elaine and Gerry stop bickering to smooch.
Bass, Hicks and Sunay meander through the comedy club, cafe and back alley sets, but McLim and Duffy demand attention and generate most of the giggles. Altogether, the enthused bunch are damn good at making a big deal about nothing.
And, let's face it, it could have been bad, man -- very bad, man.
The Gerry Steinfeld Show seats at 6:30 p.m. Fri., Sat. and Wed. and 5 p.m. Sun. Tickets cost $48 - $58, $36 - $44 for seniors and $21.50 for kids at Celebrations (982-8282).
