THE ARTISTIC TYPE: A BLOG OF THEATER, ARTS AND CULTURE Orlando Fringe review: 'Tappin' and Yappin'!' "Join international superstar City Starr on a whirlwind journey through her career in stage, film, TV, and more!" By Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel Theater Critic May 17, 2014 Cindy Starr is planning a comeback. You've never heard of Cindy Starr? Well, that's definitely your loss. A famed dancer, singer and actress of indeterminate yesteryear, Starr plots her return to the big time in an explosion of pink sparkles, tappin' and yappin' her way through life. John B. deHaas ("Theme Park Diva," "Halloween: The Musical") has created this zippy little ode to a showbiz legend (in her own mind). Cindy, as embodied by actress Joy Andersen, has an Ethel Merman ringtone on her cellphone, a natural ebullience and legs from "there to Peoria." (She'll be the first to tell you.) Ms. Starr recounts her career by performing DeHaas' songs — so catchy and witty you'll wish they really had been around for decades. In one 1940s number, she innocently moons over her favorite tap-dancing marine in "his loafers so light." In "Ya Gotta Have Gams," a tribute to Cindy's best assets, DeHaas runs through the dictionary to find funny rhyme after funny rhyme. He has a field day, too, with the whole trajectory of a B-list celeb's career: the 1950s TV variety hour, the Christmas special. (Speaking of Christmas, Cindy's very funny holiday song makes good use of an old joke.) Director Andrea Canny does the best thing possible in a personality-driven show like this. She lets Andersen's Cindy seem completely natural (well, as natural as a carefully preserved bleach blonde can seem) and run with it. The sexual innuendo flies thick and fast, and Andersen dazzles with her fancy footwork. Despite Cindy's big personality, she never wears out her welcome. I could listen to her tap and yap all night. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archikulture Digest by Carl F Gauze Tappin’ and Yappin’ Book, Music and Lyrics by John DeHaas Directed by Andrea Canny Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Yellow Venue If you ever did a parody of the Winter Park Playhouse, this would be it. Perky Cindy Starr (Joy Andersen) arrives in a pink sparkly pants suit and bubbly blonde attitude. Behind here is Johnny Ivories (DeHaas) on piano in Liberace drag, he’s the quiet voiceless man behind her legend. The show tells the tale of her life from WW2 USO performer to a Hollywood career and the inevitable gentle fading into the night so many big stars must live through. She worked hard, sometimes doing 12 shows and eight matinees a week, but above all she loves show business. Her stories are filled with show biz legend like John Maracas and Tanya Toeshoe, and she’s even joined on stage by legendary blow hard Stevie Gourmet. From the high energy opener “Tappin’ and Yappin’ ” to the holiday closer “A Big Package for Christmas” she sparkles, taps and keeps you wondering: “How much meth do need to keep up that much energy?” Love classic Broadway? You’ll love this classy broad. This production is part of the 2014 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. Information on tickets and show times may be found at http://OrlandoFringe.org/