Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast

Scott & Patti: Pajama Party
American Stage Company
Review by William S. Oser | Season Schedule

Also see Bill's reviews of The Blue Eyed Bettys and Nick Drivas: Love at First Sight


Scott & Patti
Photo by Nick Cardello
Seeing The Scott and Patti Show (Scott Daniel and Matthew McGee) in one of its many incarnations has long been on my bucket list, and so it has come to be. I have been a Matt McGee fan for quite a while (seriously, isn't every theatergoer in the Tampa Bay area?). What I didn't realize going in was that Scott Daniel, whom I have seen in several productions and who also does extraordinary wig and make-up work as well as costume designing, is an extremely talented singer. His two solos, "Expect the Unexpected" (an original by Stan Collins and Alison Burns) and "True Colors" (Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick) which is paired with "Over the Rainbow" sung by Matt, were highlights of the evening.

Alison Burns and Emanuel Carrero join in the fun as special guests, The Scott and Patti Kids (Alex Council, Natalie Cottrill, Keely Pendergrass, and Madison Potantus) arrive for a slumber party and Blake Conley, playing the role of Lester St. Claire, Scott's "roommate," is at the piano.

With Matt McGee in charge, I expected a full complement of camp, so I was pleased with the high level of shear entertainment. The set-up is that Matt McGee as Patti is mother to Scott. Scott greets the audience and sings "Oh, What a Night." This sets up an effective entrance for Patti in a sparkly, off the shoulder blue number with a wig (presumably designed by Scott) which is swept up and huge. Next, mother and son sing "Love Will Keep Us Together," mostly camp, then an uptempo take on "Memory," which I didn't find particularly effective, and "You're the Top." Next is Scott's "Expect the Unexpected," which is referred to above and "What I Did for Love" as a duet.

Burns, Carrero and Scott do a trio saluting Stephen Schwartz ("Corner of the Sky" by Carrero, "Meadowlark" by Burns, and one by Scott Daniel). Matt reminds us that he is a "Broadway Baby," the kids tell us they were "Wishin' and Hopin'," Matt does some vocal impressions of ladies who have been involved with Hello, Dolly! at some point in their careers, Scott and Patti sing "The Way You Look Tonight" and the duet of "True Colors," and "Over the Rainbow" closes the main part of the show. As an encore the audience is offered what is apparently de rigueur at Scott and Patti Show performances, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," taking on a completely different meaning which I will forgo discussing.

Scott and Patti have built a strong fan base. At the performance I attended, many people in the audience were speaking about never missing a show, and the pair has received many awards for best cabaret show, and a WAVE award from the Watermark, our gay newspaper which covers Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Sarasota/Manatee. Now that I have seen my first Scott and Patti show, I suspect it will not be my last.

Scott & Patti: Pajama Party presented by The Scott and Patti Show performs again on July 31, 2017, at American Stage Theatre Company, 163 Third Street North, St. Petersburg FL. For more information, visit www.americanstage.org.