BROADWAY SNAP-SHOT
by Russell Bouthiller

Dateline: September 15, 2006

MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME

Success, as the saying goes, has many fathers. And, a Broadway successeven a one-man showis sired by a slew, the lot of whom will eagerly share in opening night accolades. Let there be failure and the house will come down on the title figure's head which, in this go-round, is the irrepressible Martin Short in his new "comedy musical," MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME.

The good news for Short is that the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre still stands. Conceived by Short and Scott Wittman, MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME grew out of the Short family Christmas tradition of trying out new comedy skits. Daniel Goldfarb co-wrote the book with Short and additional material was supplied by Alan Zweibel. Wittman's collaborator on HAIRSPRAY, Marc Shaiman, provides the music and tickles the ivories onstage, as well. That's quite a talented gaggle of Dads for a one-man show that happens to have a supporting cast of five.

MARTIN SHORT: FAME BECOMES ME is an adorable, hodgepodge revue that lovingly lampoons those tell-allokay, tell sometheatricalizations of a star's life. Conceding that his road to stardom has not been the stuff of torment, Short announces, "A lot of what I'll be telling you will be true. A lot I'll be making up. See if you can tell the difference."

Making an entrance atop a grand staircaseone that allows only a partial viewShort mocks the culture of celebrity adoration with his frantic style. Sharing some of his earliest moments, he zooms across the stage in a basinet contraption proclaiming his fascination with the female form in the hysterical "Babies" number. Joining him in this stroll down mammary lane are Brooks Ashmanskas, Nicole Parker and Mary Birdsong.

Short goes on to exhume his Canadian roots and, then, delves into his early Broadway years. And, sure, Short makes it big. But, what's the point of caring about a celebrity's rise if we don't get to relish in the fall that is sure to follow? This paves the way for his mock-comeback-show, "A Dry Martin, Straight Up with a Twist," a wink and a nod to Elaine Stritch. "Just remember, my rock-bottom is your wildest dream."

For a show about a performer's ego, this star gives his buoyant supporting players full license. Celebrity impersonations are their strong suit and Mary Birdsong simply nails it with her Judy Garland as Dorothy routine in "The Farmer's Daughter" skit. Parker captures the unique facial contortions of Rene Zellwegger with hilarious accuracy. And, Ashmanskas kills us with his Tommy Tune take on stilts.

But, just when a slight fading sensation begins to set in, Capathia Jenkins struts down the aisle in one of Jess Goldstein's shimmering costumes and launches into the eleven o'clock number "Stop the Show." And, does she ever. Capping things off with "Glass Half Full," Short buttons-up this sweet, funny and thoroughly entertaining show. "You know, performing in a Broadway musical is never easy," he confesses, "But, if you cast it right, someone in the chorus is."