'Vaud Rats' adventurous romp

REVIEW

Billed as an Ukulele Operetta, "Vaud Rats" possessed the tragic story line one would anticipate from the genre and this ambitious one-man-show deserved a full house.

Pure Theatre found another tasteful venue after being evicted from the Cigar Factory and Lance Hall had the comfortable seats one expected of Pure Theatre.

This smallish intimate space has 72 seats and unfortunately only about a dozen were occupied by patrons on Tuesday's opening night.

The venue is tucked behind Circular Church at 150 Meeting Street.

K. Brian Neel from Seattle created, composed and performed as character Cecil B. DeUkulele who went from big-time vaudeville to singing to the rats in an abandoned warehouse.

Neel channeled Robert Downey Jr. playing Charlie Chaplin. He had all the comedic moves, pantomine, facial expressions, and voices for both male and female roles in his operetta.

The minimal stage props propelled the show forward as his daughter N. Bronte Neel, 15, controlled the lights, stage props and music on cue. Quite a technical undertaking for this young person billed as a "technical conspirator" on the program.

Brian Neel had 22 songs which were short skits that could stand on their own.

Particularly outstanding was the skit on the "Art of Flirtation" where he played an idiot as he tried to explain the art of flirtation. His banter as both teacher and idiot tested the patience of both the characters and the audience.

Neel took the audience on an adventurous romp through his dysfunctional life full of characters and incidents that led to his demise as a vaudeville performer, his talent always intact.

Neel was the master of costume changes without the benefit of a private dressing room, and it worked well. This handsome young entertainer literally sweated up a storm to entertain us.

If you like the art of pantomine, physical agile body language, and the sounds of a ukulele, don't miss this show.