The full page congratulatory program ad said “Ethel Merman has been gone twenty-three years, but we can still hear her Unplugged! – Edith & Ervin Drake.”

Yes, there is something pure and unspoiled that comes "from the soul and not the soundboard" (Scott Siegel). Each year, when Broadway stars are unfettered by microphones at this event, there is the realization that vocal beauty is distorted by the technology imposed on them on the Broadway stage. Truth be told, even in a 1,500 seat theatre like Town Hall, every nuance and lyric is distinguishable.

With a cast of talent hard to assemble in one place on any given evening, Scott Siegel manages to bring together the best of the best. From Aaron Lazar (A Tale of Two Cities) opening with glorious tenor tones on “Stranger in Paradise” to Ashley Brown’s (Mary Poppins) “I Happen to Like New York,” it kept getting better and better. Of course, Scott is the only one on a microphone declaring that, “when it comes to chops, I’m chopped liver!”

Comical Bill Daugherty had his turn singing Max Bialystock’s “Betrayed” (with water break) and had the audience roaring.  Standby as Emile de Becque  in South Pacific, William Michals, produced a glorious richness in sound on “If I Can’t Love Her” (Beauty and the Beast) and Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper (pictured) was oozing sugar with “Honey..ooh…suckle Rose.”

Acid Queen Cheryl Freeman wowed everyone with “God Bless the Child” and “Feeling Good,” having told Scott earlier she has microphone cereal every morning. She was one of the few performers who took the liberty to use the entire stage. Ron Bohmer may have had “Trouble” in River City (Music Man) but not at The Town Hall as he produced this great theater piece with high energy and a chorus. The ship motif part of the evening brought Lorinda Lisitza, a perfect performer for Kurt Weill material and “Pirate Jenny.”

Ever popular heart-throb Marc Kudisch (soon to be seen on Broadway in 9 to 5) twanged it up on “Bless Your Beautiful Hide” (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) with help from the lovely Julia Murney and Christianne Noll. “Love Is Sweeping the Country” (Of Thee I Sing) was an ode to the Red, White & Blue as Jeremy Benton, Benjie Randall, Anna White and Erin Denman sang and danced their way through. The evening’s highlight — a very pregnant and radiant Christiane Noll brought tears to herself and many in the audience with the poignant “The Story Goes On” (Baby): a perfect match!  Ross Patterson and his Little Big Band backed all the singers in the style we’ve become accustomed to hearing.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
November 17, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org