Nastrovia to Nadler and his Russians!

Seeing the great Mark Nadler perform is one of those rare treats that you will remember for the rest of your life. Sure, there are many talented performers that take the stage each night, but there are very few entertainers with the bravado of Mr. Nadler. His latest work is a tour-de-force, Broadway bound caviar laden, Russian On The Side derived from the famous Danny Kaye classic ‘Tchaikovsky (and Other Russians)'originally written for the musical Lady In The Dark by Kurt Weil and Ira Gershwin. In the song, 49 famous and not so famous Russian composers are rhymed and rattled off as quickly as possible. This song (which Mr. Nadler based one of his New York cabaret acts on) is the jumping off point for this rich and vibrant production which Mr. Nadler the entertainer becomes Professor Nadler and attempts to teach the audience how to remember each of the 49 names. Mr. Nadler does this by weaving intricate stories along with songs of twentieth century composers and lyricists as varied as Richard Rogers to John Wallowitch.

Make no mistake; this one man show is not a cabaret act. This is a book musical if there ever was one and director Mark Waldrop has masterfully kept the production tight and fluid, which is a difficult undertaking in any one person show. From the opening "Tchaikovsky" song to the closing number ‘Next' by Stephen Sondheim (Pacific Overtures), the show is a triumphant showcase of Mr. Nadler's talents which includes being a phenomenal pianist, vocalist and dancer. What might not be obvious at first is that you are also watching a great actor who can one second have you belly laughing and in the next wiping a tear from your eye.

There is a lot to take away from Russian On The Side. The stories that Mr. Nadler narrates includes those of his childhood in Iowa, the historical personal backgrounds of the Russian composers as well as linking the past to present, where when viewed through the complicated prism of Mr. Nadler, the truth is unveiled that we as humans haven't changed very much. The stories have a through line of how being seen as an outcast can make the soul stronger and the artist in each of us flourish. Sometimes this is done in a tongue-in-cheek manner as the gay Tchaikovsky brothers are "outed" by a 19th Century Gladys Kravits and sometimes this is done with song as simple and poignant as ‘The Ugly Duckling'. Helping Mr. Nadler convey the right tone for each trinket is the marvelous raked window set by David Korins and the brilliant lighting design by Keith Parham which sometimes serves as another character as in the high flying number "Icarus".

Ultimately, Russian On The Side is the realization of how we all need to be mentored in our lives and how our mentors shape who we become. Producers Michael Alden and Karen Lotman are to be commended for trusting in this rare and magical type of theatre which marries man and show. With Russian On The Side, Chicago audiences are in for a wonderful history lesson taught by the most preeminent showman of our time.

Russian On The Side plays through June 15, 2008 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois. For tickets an show times please visit www.RussianOnTheSideOnline.com or the Royal George Theatre Box Office (312) 988-9000.