The musical finale for Piccolo Spoleto Festival 2008 was in Hampton park Saturday evening but the big laughs were at Theatre 99 as improv ruled . Upright Citizens Brigade did their 7:30 show and contributed greatly when they provided zany merriment to the 2-hour Grand Finale at 9:30. The group, who has been learning to live on The Edge Of America at Folly Beach, opined that Charlestonians like their city and like to get drunk.

Mary Theresa Archbold, JAZZ HAND, reprised two skits and the stars of the Cody Rivers Show - both of them - joined the gang onstage as the audience relaxed with some cold brews and threw out suggestions.

Running gags kept on running all evening long, popping up unexpectedly, to the delight of the jam-packed room.

The show touched many, many bases and you would have had to have been there to understand the juxtaposition of hollow-boned birds, bearded predators and Girl Scout outings.

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

Very appropriate that my trip upstairs at Mistral for the final of the 12 acts of the Festival Jazz Series would feature Bobbie Storm. She’s the ultimate saloon singer.

And it’s always been in bars where I have seen her around Charleston as she smoothly belted out jazz standards.

I snapped a lot of pictures (no flash of course) but this reflection in the bar mirror seemed to sum it up. Let me quickly add that I have never seen her take a drink.

She was backed by other favorites of mine - Tommy Gill on piano, David Patterson, drums and Wayne Mitchum, bass. I seem to remember Wayne called himself Neckbonius Monk.

Earlier in the day, over at Mad River Grille and Bar, Gary Erwin and his band, was pleasing a crowd of visitors and assorted Blues fans.

If we could nominate a Poster Person for the title of Blues Promoter, Manager and Performer, it would have to be Gary. To help you visualize this, I “posterized” a shot of him in action at his keyboard.

Both venues - and a stop for half a slab of delicious ribs at Sticky Fingers - featured VERY cold air conditioning, something visitors AND locals appreciate as we quickly move from Spring into that other Sizzling season in the Lowcountry.

Tonight will be a full slate of comedy at Theater 99. And that includes the Finale.

I bumped into Timmy Finch, one of the founders of The Have Nots, the other day and mentioned I was looking forward to the “big Finish” - a highlight every year for this and for their Comedy Festival. I added “it’s like a funny, funny smorgasbord.”

“Yeah,” Timmy shot back, “a real Poo Poo Platter.”

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

Fringe is an exciting part of the annual Spoleto Festival and often provides some pleasant surprises.

JAZZ HAND, Tales Of A One Armed Woman, starring Mary Theresa Archbold and her husband Pat Shay, is a great example.

“Jazz Hands” is the name of a famous dance number from the Bob Fosse musical “All That Jazz.”

Mary Theresa - born without her left hand and forearm - provides many variations of events in her life relating to that missing limb.

Some are awkward, most are funny and ALL are inspiring by a lady who’s getting along with her life.

Here she is pictured, dancing with God, who answered her musical question “Why didn’t You Make All Of Me?”

She announced there are two more performances at the American Theatre. Do yourself a favor. Go see her.

Applaud with BOTH hands.

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

The talented stars of the Holy City Homecomin’ Tuesday night at The Footlight Players Theatre Tuesday evening were Gradual Lean and Clay Ross’ Matuto.

They played great and the packed room really felt the magic.

But the behind-the-scenes driving force is Jack McCray.

It was his evening, his day, his week and his 30th year of being Mr. Jazz in Charleston.

This year he led the creation of the Jazz Artists of Charleston. This is his third successful gathering of talent and businesses to make things happen.

I’ve known Jack for years as the hip music writer at The Post and Courier and editor of neighborhood editions of the paper. Jack is my go-to man when I have questions about music: the Blues, Jazz, you name it. The man knows his stuff.

My Day With McCray started in Philadelphia Alley, next to the Footlight Theatre on Queen Street, when we participated in the afternoon interactive rhythmic workshop presented by Clay Ross and members of his group. It was a moving experience. No, I mean it, we REALLY moved around.

Then we climbed the stairs and met in a room over the Theatre and Jack regaled us with a vivid recap of his 30-year musical odyssey in Charleston jazz awareness and growth.

He is a great storyteller and took questions from the rapt audience.

After a break for a bite to eat, I was back for the 7:30 performance of The Homecomin’. Naturally, Jack McCray was the Master of Ceremonies.

A beautiful day in our seaside city with a man who continues to turn his vision into reality.

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

The Cuban Block Party will be covered “officially” by The Post and Courier’s writers and photographers but I wanted to share MY impressions.

The weather was clear and balmy, the music was TOTALLY Latino and I felt transported.

I had briefly visited Cuba many, many years ago and, suddenly I was back there again.

Huge time and culture warp.

All around Marion Square, bodies were moving and swaying, the bass was pulsing and your feet just started moving, slowly at first and then, you caught the beat.

Oh yeah, people watching was excellent for this non-dancer. I plan to be there again next year.

Or next week, if they’ll stage it again.

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

No, this is NOT a story about a restaurant diner who pulled a gun and refused to pay for his meal.

It is the headline I saw several years ago over a story about the eating habits of pandas. This was prompted by a terrific Piccolo Spoleto Fringe show I enjoyed last night at Theatre 99.

It was called “I Eat Pandas” and featured two VERY imaginative - and energetic - young ladies and their off stage piano player.

The hour improv presentation started with a 30-minute skit inspired by the audience suggestion of “laundry.” A large clock on the stage allowed the audience to do a “count down.”

Glennis McMurray (L) (blonde) and Eliza Skinner then did an hiliarious 15-minute reprise of the main characters and, finally, a 5-minute wrap-up of what had become a musical. No, really. Both ladies sang well and the piano/harmonica accompaniment was excellent.

On the keyboard was Jonathan Wagner, a last-minute fill in, and - he said - a member of Second City.

They announced they were doing two more shows at the Meeting Street venue so go check them out. It’s a nice “Fringe” benefit.

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

As a live music fan in general - and Blues in particular - I am looking forward to the Piccolo Early Bird Blues show starring OLD CROW downtown today 4-7pm. The venue is the Mad River Bar & Grille at 32 N. Market.

This former church building - just off East Bay - is known as a High Energy Sports Pub/Tavern with 23 hi-def tvs but it also has become a mecca for Blues music since Cumberland’s closed, according to Gary Erwin, producer of our annual 10-day Blues Bash. Hey, Gary knows his music venues.

OLD CROW, a trio from North Carolina, presents spirited Delta Blues, Ragtime and Old Timey Bluegrass. If you’ve enjoyed The Wiyos or our local musicmakers The V-Tones, you should have a rollicking good time today at Mad River.

Blues when the sun is shining. Yikes.

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

Wanda Johnson really packed the house at A Dough Re Mi Sunday night. Not an empty seat in the place.

Except hers.

A serious illness in the family had Miss Wanda headed home to the Upstate instead of to Mt. Pleasant for a scheduled evening of Piccolo-Spoleto Blues.

Shrimp City Slim (Gary Erwin) was there with his band which had backed her on her new CD “Hold What You Got.”

They sent her their love and prayers and then played her music to a capacity crowd of more than 130 patrons. Extra rows of chairs were placed in front of the stage and they filled early, attesting to the appeal of the popular young Blues singer.

Gary announced he expected Miss Johnson to be back for two scheduled appearances elsewhere in town June 5 and 6, also part of Piccolo-Spoleto.

More Chucker on Spoleto at Chuckography.

Sunday May 25 Miss Wanda Johnson, Lowcountry Queen of the Blues, will entertain at A Dough Re Mi pizzeria, in Mt. Pleasant, starting at 8pm.

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Miss Wanda several times and look forward to the 3-hour show.

Come and celebrate the Blues, support the arts and have a few slices of hot and tasty pizza.

The sound system at “The Dough” is great and the setup is comfortable for the performers and the audience. It’s a no smoking venue.