Dodge Ball, Murder and, Worse, Being Left Out

While he says he is influenced by Robert Altman, Dolly Parton The Rolling Stones and whiskey, Joe Iconis, the hugely talented composer, songwriter and performer, is his own artist: edgy, energetic, contemporary. He writes about the angst and irony of life and living it in clear lyrics that are fresh and surprising. In two cabaret shows in TriArts’ Bok Gallery last Saturday, he and recent New York University musical theater graduates, including both Jordan Stanley and Jared Weiss, standouts in the recent production of “Rent,” sang about tension on the school playground (“Dodge Ball,” given a charming rendition by Stanley,) unintentional murder (“Big Fat Ruby,” who accidentally rolled over on her abusive boyfriend in bed, delivered with style by Badia Farha,) seeking personal identity (“Blue Hair” from Molly Hager,) being left out of a group (“Everybody’s At The Bar Without Me,” Farha and ensemble.) In “Asleep On My Arm,” a man (Weiss) sings of delight turning to discomfort then prickly pain when he won’t disturb the young woman sleeping next to him. The young man in “Nerd Love,” (performed by Lance Rubin, bouncing as if on an invisible pogo stick,) finds a kindred spirit who likes “Star Trek,” too. The young woman of “Broadway, Here I Come!” (Hager) has jumped off a building ledge and sings of failed hopes as she falls toward the street where she will finally make an impact; the man in “The Goodbye Song” (Rubin) bids farewell to a child who “can’t come with me” and says he will be “in the sky in the stars.” If all this seems gloomy and neurotic, it isn’t. Iconis’s big numbers, especially “The Whiskey Song,” are old-fashioned foot-stompers. And even the starkest are written with inventive accompaniment and emotional restraint. The tell-all lyrics seem just right for a Facebook, Twitter generation. Iconis’s appearance was part of the new works program introduced this summer at TriArts. Those who missed it can see Iconis in four shows Aug. 11-13 at Barrington Stage Company’s musical theater lab, where Tony-winning composer William Finn (“Falsettos”) is the artistic producer. At BSC Iconis will appear with “Hell Raisers,” a cast of three men and a woman selected by BSC. Expect some songs to carry over from the TriArts cabaret. Both “Whiskey Songs” and “Hell Raisers” are directed by John Simpkins, TriArts’ artistic director. Joe Iconis will be performing in a cabaret setting at Barrington Stage’s Theater 2, at 36 Linden St. Pittsfield, MA, Aug. 11, 12 at 8 p.m.; and Aug. 13, at 8 and 10 p.m. Call 413-499-5447 or go to www.barringtonstageco.org for tickets.

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