NEWS FROM GOLF: THE MUSICAL

By David Richardson, WOR Radio 710 AM, January 20, 2004.

This time of year because no one would dream of opening a Broadway show in January, I get a chance to see a few of the shows I missed because of the busy fall schedule. I try to see shows people have asked about.

One such show is a very little musical tucked away at the John Houseman Theater Center on West 42nd Street. It is called GOLF: The Musical (A Round in 18 Songs) and whether or not you play golf, you are going to love this show.

Probably the best entertainment around for $40 anywhere! This is really more or less a nightclub act about the good old game and pokes fun at just about everything you’ll find on a golf course. It contains some off color jokes that are more silly than they are crude and the cast of four just have a ball cavorting around a large green with a flagstick in the center. Normally I’d give this kind of show a quick nod and head for the exit but don’t do that, as the cast led by Joel Blum, who has a couple of Tony nominations and Sal Viviano who has huge credits too, is terrific. I can’t believe this kind of talent plus the talented piano playing of Ken Lundie (who works with the Rockettes and Jimmy Buffet) is available to perform in this tiny show. The first act is just a teaser but don’t wander away especially to go to Chez Josephine down the street. The second act including a duet between Bing Crosby (Sal Viviano) and Bob Hope (Joel Blum) is twice as good and there’s even a putting contest for the audience at the end.

Really, this is enormous fun and worth the effort. The night I went it was 12 degrees but the frigid walk was more than worth it. GOLF: The Musical is quite honestly a must see.