When Reno talks, money...

It's been long years since I last saw the comic Reno perform, and I'm happy to say I braved last night's obscenely cold weather to head down to Dixon Place for good reason. She's still brilliant, still bad, still crazy like a fox after all these years, and she's talking money (Money Talks with Citizen Reno).

Only a mind like Reno's can discern a connection--no matter how occult-seeming to the rest of us--between dog whisperer Cesar Millan and economy whisperer Alan Greenspan. Doubt me all you want, but check in with Reno and you'll see. Listening to her is very instructive: She will enlighten you on the meaning of collateral debt obligations and the all-important difference between assets (especially the toxic kind and their attendant shock syndrome) and liabilities. Anyone still thinking that the credit crunch might have something to do with Ben & Jerry's ought to get schooled, right now, by Reno.

Not much gets by this tough cookie--and, lord, do we need that clear-eyed toughness with all the bullcrap flying around out there in PublicDiscourseLand these days--and she even handles DP's minor audio glitches with aplomb. But the most delicious thing I'd forgotten about Reno is just how dancerly she is--a very physical comic with surprisingly graceful flow and superb, controlled timing in every gesture.

With her canine sidekick--the well-mannered and equally-shaggy Edith Ann--offering support, Reno held down the Dixon Place lounge for about 90 nonstop minutes in this workshop performance. Just when it began to feel overextended, she wound it up. Some tweaks here and there as she goes along, and I think she'll get it just right. So, check out one of her upcoming Monday night performances--January 18, February 1, February 15, March 1 or March 15--at 8pm.

Dixon Place info