This musical is dependent on audience participation as the theatre audience is cast in the role of, well what else, an audience. In particular, Richardson’s Alberta Hunter, talks to the audience, and sings “My Handy Man,” to a man in the front row, named Freddie. The song was written by Eubie Blake and Andy Razaf. Last year Maria Muldaur recorded the song on her album Naughty, Bawdy and Blue, which pays tribute to many of the outstanding female blues singers from the early 1900’s.

Although Lorraine is officially listed as the narrator, and won an award for her supporting role, in my mind you cannot easily discern who the leading actor is in this production. We have two outstanding performers in lead roles. I give the edge to Richardson in the vocal department and to Lorraine for her acting ability.

A hilarious and yet accurate vocal, facial and body language depictions of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, is delivered by Lorraine, during a duet with Hunter (Richardson). Her portrayal of club owner Bernie and numerous other characters had us splitting our sides in laughter, but also dropping our jaws in disbelief that she could successfully pull off so many roles, regardless of gender or age.

In an entertaining, fashion Cookin’ At The Cookery, will educate you, and leave you marvelling at the woman who worked as a nurse for twenty years, until she was eighty-two and was forced into retirement by the hospital, who believed her to be seventy years old. You will witness first hand Alberta Hunter returning to the studio in 1961 to record four songs for a LP, after an absence of more than twenty years. Marvel at her ability to tour throughout the United States, Brazil and England, as an octogenarian. You will have a seat at the Whitehouse, as she performs for President Jimmy Carter, and your heart will break as she learns of her mother’s death while she is entertaining American troops in Seoul Korea.

Cookin’ At The Cookery is playing throughout British Columbia Canada during the months of October and November. You can check for venues and times here. To listen to NPR's Tavis Smiley interview director Marion Caffey click here.

While you are sitting in the theatre, enjoying the music, clapping your hands and laughing until your belly hurts, to paraphrase the woman that I was sitting beside, whatever you paid for your ticket, it will not have been enough.

Reviewed by Joe Montague

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Reviewed October 12th,  2007

Riveting Riffs thanks the Arts Club Theatre Company for making it possible to review Cookin' At The Cookery