CHARMING AND CHILLING
If villains get the best songs, Erik Scott Romney proves they might also give the most captivating performances. In his solo cabaret Broadway’s Bad Guys!, which ran at the Revolution Stage Company in Palm Springs this past weekend, Romney takes a devilish delight in embodying musical theatre’s most infamous miscreants. It’s a clever concept—and even smarter in execution.
Romney doesn’t just sing the roles—he inhabits them, slipping between characters with a dancer’s ease and an actor’s sharp instincts. Whether he’s growling through a Jekyll & Hyde number or sinking into the seductive darkness of a character like the Emcee from Cabaret, his performance is both polished and playfully unhinged. He’s clearly done his homework—there’s respect here for the craft of villainy, not just its spectacle.
Bob Marino. Erik Scott Romney. Chip Prince
The show moves at an engaging pace and delivers plenty of fun, though at times it gently brushes up against familiar cabaret territory. A few transitions between numbers could benefit from a touch more polish. Still, Romney’s magnetic presence more than makes up for it. His connection with the audience is immediate and sincere—even when he’s channeling Broadway’s most chilling characters.
Musical director Chip Prince and percussionist Bob Marino provide stylish, stripped-down accompaniment, allowing Romney’s vocals and storytelling to take center stage. The result is intimate, moody, and often very funny.
At its best, Broadway’s Bad Guys! isn’t just a revue—it’s a love letter to the complex characters we love to hate. And Romney makes a strong case that maybe, just maybe, the dark side deserves a standing ovation.
Broadway’s Bad Guys!
Revolution Stage Company
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs
reviewed May 24; ends on May 25, 2025
for tickets, visit Revolution
for more info, visit Erik Romney
