Reviewed by Tracey Paleo, Gia On The Move

From Como To Homo takes a long time getting to the point. Yet, there is something in a simple story about a woman who traverses a lifetime of denial to finally meet the man of her dreams – herself.

Lynne Jassem has been a notable tapping and acting wonder since she was a Comoette (The Perry Como Show Live) darling of the early 1950’s television era and a tomboy always at odds with her extremely feminine mother, a spotlight stealing, former Rockette.  Throughout her life she’s had to deal with the conflict of maintaining her outward girliness while pushing down the powerhouse who keeps fighting to break free.

It’s not an easy journey no matter how light of it she makes throughout the vignettes of auditions and rehearsals, crushes, illness and college where she finally does come out against all odds including her mother’s regularly dramatic fainting spells.

In between, what we discover is that Jassem is a show-stopping tap sensation who, when she finally accepts herself and does let loose, soars.  In this outcome, From Como to Homo is a sincerely validating, triumphant experience.

Where the tapping is concerned however, we don’t get to see enough of it. And I personally wish we could.  When she ‘pulls out all the stops’ she’s wonderful! Maybe she’ll consider replacing a few of the extraneous story bits (of which there are many) for a little more of the dancing.