[rating=5] Anyone who attends theater on a regular basis, knows the name Michael Mahler. He is a terrific performer, a solid singer and for those who do not know this about Michael, he is a great song writer with some wonderful music. A graduate of Northwestern, he has always had a “thing” for Paul McCartney and the Artists Lounge Live has grabbed this talent for a special show called “Silly Love Songs” which just finished two wonderful performances at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. This is an in-the-round venue but when they turn it over t Michael Ingersoll’s Artists Lounge Live, it becomes a three sided stage. This , by the way, is most effective and allows the audience a clear vies of the performer at work.
As with the other Artists Lounge Live performers, they are not imitating the person they are doing, but rather telling us the stories relating to the person and their music. Mahler, who evidently was inspired by McCartney brings us some facts that many of us never knew. For example the history of his starting a band when a very young lad. We learn the family was true working class and that is the reason that he focused on the working class in the material that he wrote ( “Rita” for example and certainly “Eleanor Rigby”). The song book is huge and most everyone in the audience was familiar with every song ( including those that were part of Wings ( after the Beatles).
I am sure that this wonderful theatrical experience will be brought back to the area. It may be a while, since Mahler is also doing shows and writing shows, so he may have to find a few days here and there to bring it back. If you hear that he is, I suggest that you run, do not walk, and make sure that you do not miss this experience. The music “Let It Be”, “Hey Jude”, “Yesterday”, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Got To Get You Into My Life” and a great many others including of course, the title song “Silly Love Songs”. The beauty of the sow is he tells us the background of each song and his relationship with his partner, John Lennon.
We also learned a great deal about Mahler and his charming wife, Dara Cameron ( who graces many a Chicago area stage herself), who came onstage to do a duet with Michael from their wedding. All in all, this is a show that is worth watching out for as it will return. His band of players were up to the highest of standards as one might expect from the Ingersoll producers, Michael and Angela. On the drums, the incredible Gerald Dowd ( who also helped with vovals), on the keyboard, Mr. William Kurk, on the Guitar ( bass and vocals) Liam Davis, on vocals Lara Filip and of course, on piano, bass, guitar and vocals, the amazing Mr. Michael Mahler.
To learn more about what is up and coming for Artists Lounge Live, visit www.artistsloungelive.com
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