Going Long

Cab and Lena

Running time: varies

Down on Congress, at a joint so fresh it still smells like paint, two legendary performers are joining forces: Lena Horne, she of the epic cheekbones and sultry ballads, and bandleader/musician Cab Calloway, who put the "hi-de-hi-de-ho" in that jivin' swing of the Thirties and Forties. When Horne jump-started her career at Harlem's fabled Cotton Club, Calloway was there to teach her a thing or two about the biz. Building on that mentor relationship, FronteraFest veterans Daniel Alexander Jones and Grisha Coleman have imagined this cross-gendered collaboration, which indulges in plenty of boisterous song and dance as well as playful banter and war stories from a full career under the lights.

As the willowy songstress, Daniel Alexander Jones is every inch the diva, prowling around in a series of chiffon and satin dresses, jawing coyly and comfortably with the audience. A good foot shorter than her counterpart, Grisha Coleman makes a fitting foil, clomping around the stage in a dapper white suit and penciled-on mustache, her mouth open in a wild, gaping grin. The strength of the show is its performers' chemistry -- having worked together in the musical group Hot Mouth, Coleman and Jones have a palpable affection for each other and the entertainers they're playing, and that bleeds over into every aspect of performance, whether they're breaking into a boogie, collaborating on a soulful, percussive rendition of "Blues in the Night," or trying out a few "knock-knock" jokes.

Several running references, such as the suggestion that the performance is something caught on film, are not fleshed out to satisfaction. This is a self-professed "work-in-progress," however, and it's clear that certain things are being tossed out just to see if they float. In fact, it seems the show's length varies significantly based on the amount of improvised chit-chat the two cook up. Upon entering the theatre, I heard the previous evening's performance had lasted more than 90 minutes; the show I attended was just shy of an hour. With that in mind, who's to say what to expect on any given night? Those demanding a polished performance may be disappointed. However, anyone in search of a delightful, unpredictable cabaret from two charismatic performers should cool their heels at the Hideout, baby, and get hep to the jive. (Feb 3, Thu, 10:30pm; Feb 4, Fri, 3:15pm; Feb 5, Sat, 9:15pm; Feb 6, Sun, 1pm)