There’s No Bizness Like Snow Bizness

If by some chance, you’re not completely sick of hearing holiday music by December 26, get yourself over to the Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, where Christine Pedi’s alternately heartwarming and hilarious solo show,
There’s No Bizness Like Snow Bizness, continues in residence from December 26-30.

Pedi, a veteran of such shows as Forbidden Broadway and currently co-starring in Newsical, has gained renown for her truly masterful impersonations of leading ladies of stage and screen; but for most of this 80-minute show, she only teases the audiences with this skill, dishing out very quick aural snapshots of Cher, Joan Rivers, Bette Davis and others.

Not to worry, though, the show’s finale — worth the price of admission — is her signature “12 Divas of Xmas,” in which she performs each of the 12 verses of “The 12 Days of Xmas” as a different legendary lady. Making the task more difficult — and more amazing — is that the order is determined nightly by audiences picking names out of a hat (which contains more than 12 names). I am sure no matter what and who, it’s divine, but at my visit, I was overwhelmed by the brilliance of Pedi’s takes on Elaine Stritch, Bernadette Peters, Angela Lansbury, Liza Minnelli, Carol Channing, and Julie Andrews, just to name a few.

Still, it’s enough when Pedi shows off her own formidable singing voice in a wide variety of holiday fare; among the show’s highlights are a truly gorgeous rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Perfect Year” (from Sunset Boulevard); a lovely “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”; a very impressive version of “Twas the Night Before Xmas” (with the invaluable help of musical director Matthew Ward); a thoughtful take on “Laughing Matters,” and a rather amusing piece, entitled “Taco Bell Canon,” which requires the vocal assistance of a male volunteer and the audience.

The audience also gets a couple of other chances to show off their skills — helping Pedi along in a spirited version of “Children Go Where I Send Thee” and Irving Berlin’s timeless “White Christmas.” It may be last your chance to do so for another 330 or so days!