Zarah Leander is not the most sympathetic subject for a cabaret show. An international film and recording artist, she was the biggest star in Germany during the Third Reich and a controversial favorite of Hitler and Goebbels. It is a tribute to the acting and singing power of Olivia Stevens, who tells Leander's story in her new cabaret show, Pleasure & Peril (two performances in early May, at Helen's), that Leander comes alive, portrayed with understanding and intelligence, completely in character, yet with Stevens' own highly honed talents as an entertainer. Stevens - an international performer in her own right, in classical drama, musical theater and television - is a find, adding her European sensibility, charm, and rich, supple voice to the city's cabaret stages. She is also wise enough to enlist several of cabaret's finest pro's behind her: David Pearl on piano, capturing the period's musical style; Eric Michael Gillett as director; and, aiding her on the script, Gillett and James Beaman.
Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
May 2, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org
|
