The World's First Concert Pianist/Drag Diva

Je m'appelle Jacqueline ("Ma Vie c'est la Vie")

Don't Tell Mama, 3/5/00

Applause! Applause!
Volume V Issue 5

"Je m'appelle Jacqueline (Ma vie c'est la Vie)" - Jacqueline Jonée
Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street: 212-757-0788)
Reviewed 3/5/00 at 6:00 p.m. by Dr. Thomas Robert Stevens

Jacqueline Jonée being promoted as "The World's First Concert Pianist/Drag Diva" and the reason why she may be the first is because it is difficult for a performer to strut and posture about while keeping both hands on a keyboard.  However, I am pleased to report that Ms. Jonée does make the best of the situation by donning elaborate and colorful accessories and by getting out from behind the piano from time to time to discuss things with her audience.  Jason Tobias DiMatteo, a charismatic and talented string bass player, went above and beyond the call of duty interacting with Ms. Jonée in a delightful way that added to my enjoyment of her performance, and Mary Rodgriguez did a superior job on percussion.

The best number in the show was "What Makes A Man" (Charles Aznavour) which was sung by Ms. Jonée with only string bass accompaniment and was so moving, you could hear a pin drop in the cabaret room.  "Only For Americans" (Irving Berlin) from Miss Liberty was a fun song about that which is reserved for American tourists in France.  Jacques Brel's "Carousel" was sung in all its glory with a well-timed light show offered up by Bobby Kneeland, the Technical Director.  "Véronique" from On The Twentieth Century, a song about a modern day Joan of Arc during the Franco-Prussian War, was great fun!  "I wonder Who's Kissing Him Now?" (music by Joseph Howard; lyric by Hough and Adams). "Kiss Of Fire" ( Lester Allen and Robert Hill),  "Can-Can" (Cole Porter/Offenbach) and "I Got Rhythm" (Piano solo arranged by George Gershwin) from An American In Paris, were all enjoyable, but the "Folies Bergères" (Maury Yeston) from  Nine enabled Jacqueline Jonée to war the most beautiful head dress of all, sight you just see to believe; it barely fit onto the stage!

John D. Nieman plays Jacqueline Jonée, who we learn is not really from France, but from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a lovely picturesque city I've actually had the pleasure to visit.  Ms. Jonée confesses that "France is the motherland of her heart." But reminds everyone that she is the gal who put the "sass in Saskatoon."  Whether she was born in France or Canada, and regardless of whether she sings in French or English, I can assure you that Jacqueline Jonée us a world class entertainer.  She has already received the 1997 Mikey Award for Best New Artist, was crowned Miss cherries in 1997 of Cherry Grove, Fire Island, and also won the title of Mrs. Fire Island 1997.   Last year, Ms Jonée made her Carnegie Hall debut with the York City Gay Men's Chorus in the Swellegant Ellegant concert tribute to Cole Porter starring Harvey Fierstein and Kristin Chenoweth.  Jacqueline Jonée is absolutely delightful and I urge you to catch her live!