ONCE A BOZO, NOT ALWAYS A BOZO by Verne Langdon

"ONCE A BOZO, NOT ALWAYS A BOZO!"

- by Verne Langdon

Just WHO does Joey D'Auria think he IS?

Well, one thing's for sure ... he ISN'T Bozo the Harmon Clown anymore. Seventeen years on WGN-TV Chicago was a long-enough run for Joey, although I'm sure he'd have been willing to stay another seventeen years had the show not ended.

The last time I saw Joey he thought he was George Burns, regaling the (Santa Barbara, California) Arlington Theater's audiences in a Milt Larsen/Chris Bearde production of "The Really Retro Radio Revue". Betty White was Gracie Allen to Joey's George Burns in that show, and they certainly brought the legendary couple back to life in those eerie yet funny performances.

But last weekend Joey really hurt me.

I know he didn't mean to, but my sides are STILL aching from watching three performances of Joey as Joe Weber (of the Weber & Fields vaudeville comedy team) in a brand new magical musical extravaganza, "PAZZAZZ!" which played the majestic newly-restored Granada Theatre here in Santa Barbara, California.

What's "PAZZAZZ!" ? It's a musical about vaudeville, but SO much more. It's got GREAT music,GREAT lyrics, GREAT costumes, GREAT story, and a truly remarkable cast!

Which includes Joey D'Auria!


So how does Joey D'Auria do in the role?

Let me preface my review by warning: if you're not totally nuts about Joey D'Auria, you'd better stop reading this right now. BECAUSE ..... Joey D'Auria as Joe Weber could easily steal the show from an INCREDIBLY capable, Gifted cast, were he not such a well-schooled, Professional (trained at New York City's prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts) entertainer.

Joey D'Auria doesn't steal the show because he knows better. He knows exactly where he is, why he's there, what his job is, and he sings (!) and dances (!) and stars (!!!) his exquisite little way through one of the most delightful musicals I've EVER had the pleasure of seeing THREE TIMES! (I heavily emphasize THREE TIMES because ONCE is ALWAYS enough for me. Not this show it wasn't.)

In "PAZZAZZ!", Joey is in stellar company with the likes of Dale Khristien as Lillian Russell, Joshua Finkel as Lew Fields, Juliet Fischer as Billiard Billie, Amy Gillette as Josie Cohan, Adam Wylie as (young) Georgie Cohan, Danny Michaels as (statue) George M. Cohan, Barbara Hinrichsen as Miss Finchball, Alan Rachins as James Skimmer, and Michael Hill as Manny Kahn, and a gaggle of singers, dancers and musicians that are among the sharpest I've ever seen and heard! Real EYE & EAR CANDY! The ONLY reason I just listed all those people is because they are nothing short of FANTASTIC, each and every one.

Arlene Larsen is the Executive Producer of "PAZZAZZ!" along with her Husband Milt, but she also designed (and created!) the one-hundred-and-fifty costumes, any one of which puts to shame anything you've ever seen in a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey spec, or in any other Broadway show. Brooks Van Horn, eat your heart out!

Besides Joey D'Auria and all the other stellar show stars, the book, sets, lighting, and casting are TOTAL PERFECTION!

If (I should say WHEN!) "PAZZAZZ!" lands on Broadway I won't be the LEAST bit surprised (I will be ASTOUNDED if the show DOESN'T land on Broadway. It's most assuredly a "New York show", and a WINNING one at that!)

But should it pass through your town or city on it''s way East, DON'T YOU DARE MISS JOEY D'AURIA IN "PAZZAZZ!"

It's BETTER than a THREE-RING CIRCUS!

Former vaudevillians Felix B. Adler, Jackie LeClaire Sr., Chester Sherman, Joe Vani Sherman and Kenneth Waite eventually all left vaudeville to become clowns.

It's therefore only fitting that Joey D'Auria left clowning to become a vaudevillian!