[NEohioPAL]Berko Review of 7 LITTLE WORDS (Greta Rothman Show)

[Roy Berko]

‘THOSE SEVEN LITTLE WORDS’ ENTERTAINS AT KENNEDY’S

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


"If you’re here tonight you’re gay, know someone who
is gay or are my family." With that statement
Cleveland comedian and diva, Greta Rothman, opened her
one-woman show, ‘THOSE SEVEN LITTLE WORDS." It
recounts her dating and mating attempts on the local
scene, as well as in New York.  Rothman recently
returned to the area after trying her hand at hooking
a husband and starting an entertainment career in the
Big Apple. 

The seven little words?  They are "I love you, so
you’re probably gay." They account for why Rothman is
still unmarried.  They also account for why she put
together a show which consists of eleven songs and an
equal number of funny comic shticks about her
relational life. 

Rothman was raised in University Heights.  Her high
school prom date was gay, the guys she feel in love
with during her teen years were gay, her best friends
in New York were gay.  The Jewish Rothman even
recounts that when she followed her mother’s advice
and went to a synagogue on the upper west side in
Manhattan, and found so many "gorgeous men" that she
pined to return the next week, she found out that the
men had only  been there because it was gay pride
weekend.  Oi!

Rothman, who prefers that she be called a "flame dame"
rather than a "fag hag" or a "fruit fly," which are
terms to describe straight woman who love gay men, has
a fine singing voice. She sings with meaning rather
than just mouthing words, which makes her songs both
understandable and engulfing.  Her voice was
especially well used in the Cy Coleman song "No Man
Left For Me." The theme song was delightfully sung.  
"She Loves Me," sung with backup singer Eric Alan,
showed nice blending.  "Sisters," sung with her other
backup, Mike Caraffi was a cute idea and nicely done. 
Both Alan and Caraffi need to loosen up on stage to
match Rothman’s naturalness.  

The musicians, Charles Eversole and Greta’s brother,
Andrew Rothman, were excellent, though Eversole’s
synthesizer was often too overpowering for the small
size of the theatre.  The duo also sang backup in
several songs.

Most of the musical selections for the one-running
-joke show were appropriate, fitting well with the
comedy.    "The Rose," a Bette Middler song which was
selected to end the show, however, seemed out of
place.   "Someday My Prince Will Come" would have been
a more appropriate ending considering Ms. Rothman’s
stated desire to continue her quest to find the right
man.

Kennedy’s does not lend itself to the intimacy needed
for this show, especially as the seating is
configured.  Rather than setting up the theatre so
that the audience surrounded the performer the
decision was made to run the seating the length of the
bowling alley shaped space.  Adding tables in front of
the seats made for difficult viewing and pushed the
audience even farther away.  Consideration should be
given to alerting the stage/seating arrangement.

This is a show which will delight a certain
theatre-going set.  Someone with liberal leanings,
those who are gay or know someone who is gay, or those
wanting to hear of a fun search for "mister right,"
that continues to garner "mister wrong," will enjoy
themselves.

‘THOSE SEVEN LITTLE WORDS,’ which runs without an
intermission, plays through August 23 at the small
theatre below the Ohio Theatre.  For tickets, which
are a reasonable $15, call 216-241-6000 or
800-766-6048.  For more information about the show go
to the official website at www.sevenlittlewords.com.

P.S.  If you know a nice STRAIGHT Jewish man, about
30-something, looking for a talented comedian and
singer for a wife, Greta’s mother would love to hear
from you.


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