Me, Ray Charles And Sammy Davis Jr
Movin' Melvin Brown
Caos Cafe
March 9
Until Sat 31 March


Movin' Melvin Brown may be the last of a dying breed - but don't tell him that! The evergreen song and dance man just keeps on keeping on. They don't make them like Ray Charles or Sammy Davis Jr any more and they don't make them like Melvin either - and they also don't make costumes like Melvin's costumes.

As if he stepped out of a time capsule, Melvin hit the stage in gold suit and top hat and wowed the audience with an extended tap routine. A quick costume change later and Melvin launched into his Ray Charles tribute. Melvin was sure-footed as Charles and his deep bluesy voice suited classics like Hit The Road Jack, Georgia and an impressive cover of Lennon's Imagine. The accompanying banter was a little corny, but the 'Eddie Murphy' laugh was infectious.

Melvin's Sammy tribute was less impressive as the repertoire (Mr. Bojangles excepted) was largely based on Davis mimicking other giants like Louis Armstrong and Sinatra. The dancing was a hoot, although what Michael Jackson caught in the River Dance had to do with Davis was beyond me. Sammy Davis Jr was a complex character and his place in black history is conjectural. I would have appreciated more than a superficial insight.

But hey, Melvin's about entertainment pure and simple, and the audience got into the spirit and sang and danced along. As the song says, he did it his way and he knows no other.

Mal Byrne