Carly Ozard is a local theater and cabaret entertainer with a big brassy voice that can just as easily shift to mezzo-soprano at the drop of a hat. Bitter and Be Gay follows the singer's comic foibles of dating men that happened to be gay, to her self examination and finally to her move to San Francisco's gay district where she finally feels most at home. The show had some extra help in development by cabaret performer Shawn Ryan, some very funny material by parody lyricist Tom Orr and musical direction from Barry Lloyd.

Ozard mines some wonderful comic novelty songs that advance the theme, opening with 'Big Blond and Beautiful' from Hairspray, "You Want to Be My Friend?" and Barry Manilow's "Man Wanted" from "Copacabana." Bold and brassy is Ozard's way and her story of finding herself and being comfortable in her own skin makes for some funny moments. The Sounds of Music's "I Have Confidence" is a great choice, as is her inclusion of '"Always a Bridesmaid" and "Happily Ever After." Self-deprecating humor can make us all feel akin to the deliverer as we've all been there and know how it feels.

Ozard closed the show with a great rendition of "50 Percent," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" and Noel Coward's "If Love Were All." She already has her theatrical chops under her belt and has the potential to develop into a fine cabaret performer in the Sharon McNight, Charlotte Rae, Leanne Borghessi style, where comedy and drama can merge.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
September 26, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org