Molly Pope claims that she wasn’t born to be a diva, she was born as a diva, and the womb was her dressing room, not her waiting room.  She may even be right. One thing is sure, you don’t find many young vocalists (she claims to be 25) with Pope’s command of her material and her audience.

For this show, she created a pseudo-autobiography (at least we trust that it’s pseudo-) of a man-happy, man-hungry female.  She’s got a big vocal range and a belting ability that could – and did – occasionally prove bigger than the room could handle.  But she also provided quiet ballads with fresh and interesting interpretations," It Never Entered My Mind" and "What’ll I Do?"

Pope claimed to be eager to be cast in a musical, and if this were a showcase, it offered multiple facets of the young performer.  Her "I Cain’t Say No" began almost introspectively and ended as a proclamation to the world.  She was saucy with "Experience Unnecessary" and active, animated and seductive with "Do It Again."

It’s hard to predict how soon she’ll get her wish for a musical role, but in a cabaret setting she’s a delight.  Ray Fellman was her musical director; Matt Sigl directed.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
October 26, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org