When a date happens only once every four years, it acquires event status, which is why jackbenny’s February 29, 2020 one-nighter at the Luckman Fine Arts Center Intimate Theatre, cleverly dubbed “And on the 366th Day,” not only proved a musical extravaganza of epic proportions, the next time the singing, songwriting twins will be able to repeat the event won’t be for another 1461 days.

As was the case during their 2018 monthly residency at Silver Lake’s Lyric Hyperion Café, Jack and Benny Lipson’s evening at the Luckman added up to for two thoroughly engaging hours of original music, snappy patter, and a grand total of five very special guests to spice up the already savory mix.

The offspring of Broadway performer-turned=celebrity photographer Cliff Lipson and musical theater star Valerie Perri, the equally handsome and charming Jack and Benny Lipson have been making a name for themselves as multi-talented performers in their own right, their original songs showcasing the 20something duo’s silky pipes, instrumental gifts (Jack on piano, Benny on double bass, guitar, and piano), and their talent for creating quirky jazz-infused melodies with equally offbeat lyrics.

Take for instance the cleverly titled “I Wanna Hold You (Accountable),” whose parenthetical addendum alters the meaning of what might otherwise portend the kind of love song we’ve heard again and again. Instead, jackbenny demand something more than three little words from the object of their affections, which makes this particular declaration of love (and accountability) something quite special indeed.

Combining two of their favorite activities, music and scrabble (along with a bossa nova beat), the boys have come up with “(Add) U And I.” (“I once thought that buying roses was mysterious, but add ‘u’ and ‘i,” and roses say our romance is serious.”)

And since every jackbenny show is likely to include a cover, this one featured the 1937 Harold Rome gem “Sing Me A Song Of Social Significance,” whose title could just as easily apply to Lipson Brothers originals like “When Starting With Consent,” with a #metoo-aware Benny proclaiming “Before I went in for her kiss, I asked for her consent” and Jack echoing with his own “I asked for his consent,” just one example of why jackbenny have become LGBTQ community celebs. (Another is “Asking/Queer,” that poses the queston, “When did you first know that you were gay? Asking for a friend.”)

Adding sparkle and spice throughout “And on the 366th Day” were five of the most talented guest artists any twin crooners could wish for, from a pair of dazzlingly talented up-and-coming female vocalists (Bella Hicks and Nina Herzog) to engaging guitarist-singer John Schroeder to their very own stunner of a mom (of Evita, Dolly, and Norma Desmond fame) to the statuesque blonde bombshell that is Jonnie Reinhart in full RuPaul’s Drag Race-ready coif, makeup, gown, and heels.

With each new jackbenny show differing from the one before with newly added songs and new arrangements of old favorites, it’s easy to see why the Lipson brothers keep on attracting repeat visitors like this reviewer, for whom a full two-thirds of the evening’s twenty-one songs were new.

Not only that, but rarely does an L.A. theater audience prove more generation-bridging than jackbenny’s, ranging in age from 20somethings to septuagenarians and everything in between.

Saturday’s song cycle looked quite spiffy indeed on Sam Slosburg’s ’70s-hued set, featured choreography by Penny Wildman, and throughout the evening showcased the percussion gifts of drummer Spencer Inch and some pretty terrific lighting effects to boot.

When reviewing jackbenny back in July of 2018, I wrote, “I had a sensational time at my first jackbenny show and if my schedule permits, it won’t be the last.” Thanks to the added day we get gifted with every four years, on February 29, 2020 I got my chance.

Luckman Fine Arts Complex Intimate Theatre. Cal State, Los Angeles.
www.jackbennynow.com

–Steven Stanley
February 29, 2020
Photos: Cliff Lipson

Tags: jackbenny, Los Angeles Theatre Review, Luckman Fine Arts Complex Intimate Theatre