Andrea Marcovicci made her Rrazz Room debut with her latest revising of an earlier theme of movie music and how it affects our collective consciousness. Her astute and encyclopedic focus is on the musical, covering songs from the 1930s (a lovely "Cheek to Cheek" from Top Hat) to 1999's Toy Story with Randy Newman's "When She Loved Me." Andrea gives you the story behind the song, a trademark of her shows. The arrangements are fairly straightforward, illuminating the original intent of most numbers.

Marcovicci works best singing these songs of wistful nostalgia sans her operatic tendencies and overacted mannerisms. She is a skilled theatre actor which sometimes works in, and against, her favor. "Good Morning" from both 1939's Babes in Arms and 1952's Singing in the Rain"and Frank Loesser's delightful novelty song "Hamlet" from 1949's Red, Hot and Blue are Marcovicci at her finest—unaffected, lively and engaging. "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" from "Lili turned into an audience participation and along the way was some very funny banter.

The ballads included some nice versions of "Someone to Love," '"Call Me Irresponsible" and '"Charade," done simply, emotionally controlled and true. Discovering some additional lyrics to a song while doing research for a show, Marcovicci delivered a new and fresh "Thanks for the Memory." This tune summarized her whole endeavor—preserving the music and delivering it in style.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
October 17, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org