**** Highly Recommended When I first saw The Choir of Man back in 2019, I really enjoyed it, but always felt there was something missing. Turns out it needed to be in a different kind of venue - a more intimate one – Chicago’s Apollo Theater to be exact. The Apollo’s stage is surrounded by the audience rather than set apart as in a more traditional theater. Before The Choir of Man even begins, the audience is invited into the pub to enjoy a beverage or two. After a bit, everyone grabs a seat, the guys start singing Welcome to the Jungle, and you know you’re in for something special! The Choir of Man is one of the best shows I’ve seen in ages! 4 BIG Spotlights
Many years ago, I spent some time in Ireland and I learned a lot about the local pub. The local pub isn’t just a drinking establishment, it’s a gathering place for old and young. Almost every pub we visited was a warm, friendly place where we heard the very best Celtic music. For me, The Choir of Man, set in a pub called The Jungle, was more than a show, it was a reminder of a wonderful trip.
As I mentioned above, Apollo Theatre is perfect for this show. The pub felt more authentic since you could actually walk up to the bar and get a beer. The more intimate layout encouraged audience involvement, especially since the guys would sit in the audience, dance up and down the stairs or pull people onto the stage to dance. They built pyramids from coasters, then threw said coasters into the audience.
The Poet – and our narrator, Shane McDaid, from Dublin, Ireland, definitely has the gift of gam, like many a charming Irishman. He introduced the audience to the culture of the pub and even added a bit about the disappearing pub – sometimes falling victim to urban renewal. His solo, Dance with My Father, was beautiful.
His patter set the mood, as well as setting up many of the songs and introducing all the guys:
· Bore (Marc Akinfolarin – England) – soloist You Raise Me Up
· Hard Man (RJ Griffith – Chicago) – soloist You’re the Voice
· Maestro (Ifan Gwilym-Jones – Barry, Wales) piano player par excellence and soloist I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
· Beast (Cal T. King – England, but played by Norton James – England at my performance), guitar player and soloist Teenage Dream
· Handyman (George Knapper – England) – fabulous tap dance started while he was sitting at a table, then tapped his way across the stage while Shane McDaid sang 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
· Joker (Benji Lord – England) soloist Some Nights
· Barman (Mark Loveday – England) who always has his hand on the tap handle, also appeared in the 2019 touring company. His rendition of Escape (The Pina Colada Song), done with a lot of wiggling butts, was hilarious. By the way, one of the band members was playing a pineapple like a trumpet during this song.
· Romantic (Kevin James Sievert – Milwaukee, but played by David Shute – England) – soloist Hello
Like the pub entertainment I remember from Ireland, the songs performed by the Choir of Man were eclectic, ranging from Celtic harmonies to Adele, from Broadway hits to Guns ‘N’ Roses. The ensemblefollowed opening song, Welcome to the Jungle, with a mash-up of Save Tonight / Wake Me up. They also sang Chandelier, Jungle Stomp and Bring Tomorrow On. Although many of the songs were solos, the ensemble almost always sang backup. One song, Under the Bridge featured Benji Lord, David Shute and RJ Griffith with the ensemble. The show closed with a moving and traditional Irish song, The Parting Glass, which ends with the phrase, “Good night and joy be with you all.”
All of the guys played musical instruments. In addition to the piano, a couple of guitars and a variety of makeshift drums, I saw a banjo, ukulele, mandolin, fiddle, flute, a tin whistle, a trumpet, a recorder, an accordion, a bodhran (traditional Irish drum) and a tambourine.
The other thing which the original touring company lacked was a live band. Instead, the guys played instruments with a sound track backing them up. This production has a live band situated above the bar which made a huge difference. The band members are: Rafe Bradford (Bass), Seth Pae (Violin, Viola, Keys), Scott Simon (Drums) and Kelan M. Smith (Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin).
The Choir of Man runs through May 26th at the Apollo Theater, 2550 N. Lincoln, Chicago. Limited parking is available adjacent to the theater. Prepay for a guaranteed spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apollo-theater-event-parking-pass-2024-registration-848644066247 or pay $20 cash on site.
Running time is 90 minutes, no intermission. Recommended for age 6 & up. Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm; Fridays at 7:30 or 8:00 pm*; Saturdays at 4:00 & 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm. * Weekday matinees alternate between Thursdays & Fridays every other week. If a particular Friday has a 4:00 pm matinee, the evening performance will be at 8:00 pm. Tickets range from $35-$109. FYI (773) 935-6100 or www.ticketmaster.com.