by Eric Andrews-Katz - SGN A&E Writer

MANDY PATINKIN
'DRESS CASUAL'
EDMONDS CENTER
FOR THE ARTS
June 22

Mandy Patinkin has had a solid career on Broadway, in the movies, and on television. Whether it's from one of his performances on 'Chicago Hope,' 'Criminal Minds,' 'Dead Like Me,' or 'Homeland,' from his movie work in Alien Nation, The Princess Bride, or Yentl, he is a known name. But people don't realize he is also a Tony Award-winning stage actor for Evita, Sunday in the Park with George and with his work in The Secret Garden or The Wild Party, Mr. Patinkin's talent is indisputable. Reviving and touring with his concert 'Dress Casual,' Mandy Patinkin put on a highly enjoyable, intimate concert.

Mr. Patinkin entered the stage singing the classic 'Doodle-Doo-Doo.' After instructing the audience on the way to pronounce the title, Mr. Patinkin got the auditorium to sing along. It started the concert off on a casual, intimate note that set the mood for the evening's performance. Interlaced with personal stories from his life, and career, Mr. Patinkin took the audience on an intimate ride through story and song. Other works shared were, 'Bein' Green,' and 'On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe.'

Acknowledging his roots, Mr. Patinkin shared some of his Yiddish culture. Discovering (with great humor) there were only seven or eight Jewish people in the audience, he explained how most of the early, great American songwriters were Jewish. In perfect Yiddish, Mr. Patinkin sang, 'Take Me Out (to the Ball Game)' and 'I'm Dreaming (of a White Christmas)' to share with the audience.

While not part of the original concert, Mr. Patinkin did share some of his history with the Tony Award winning and Pulitzer Prize winning, Sunday in the Park With George, by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. Not sung by 'George,' the character he played on stage, Mr. Patinkin sang a haunting version of 'Children and Art.'

For almost two hours of continual, consummate entertainment (no intermission), Mr. Patinkin shared his wonderful style of voice and music with an eager audience. To the great delight of this intimate audience, Mr. Patinkin performed his noted encore. While not a song, it is from perhaps his best-known role. He walked out on stage and took the 'En Garde' stance for fencing. Looking directly at the audience, he smiled, and boldly stated the crowd-pleasing quote from The Princess Bride:

'Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.'

The night was complete after that.



Mandy Patinkin made his debut on Broadway in Evita, opposite Patti Lu Pone, for which he won a Tony Award. His second Tony Award was for Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George. His solo concerts have toured around the world benefiting different charities including gun control organizations in response to the Columbine shooting and Doctors Without Borders in response to the war in Bosnia. His work in the movies includes Yentl (Golden Globe nominated performance, opposite Barbra Streisand), Ragtime, Dick Tracy (opposite Madonna and Warren Beatty), and The Princess Bride. For his television work, Mr. Patinkin has earned several Emmy nominations for his performances on 'Homeland,' 'Chicago Hope,' and 'The Larry Sanders Show' among many others.

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