Happily, the lovely Barbara Brussell has made her way back from California, where she now resides, to regale her NY audiences with the brilliance of this show celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Grand Concourse in The Bronx. It features the artistic giants of stage and screen, the songs and songwriters such as Adolph Green, Cy Coleman, Fred Ebb, Charles Strouse, Tony Curtis, Joe Stein (present that evening), all born in the Bronx.

Brussell has a unique and quirky quality that is irresistible. Her breathy lightness on “Lucky to Be Me” was followed by a zesty “A Lot of Livin’ to Do.” She was all charm and wit on Bob Levy’s “We Can Be Alone” and with Ray Jessel’s special material, “The Grand Concourse,” a struttin’ kinda tune, we took a step back to the good ol’ days of the 1890s. Throughout, Brussell tempts us with Bronx trivia and interesting information from her little book, adding to the mystery of those northern hills.

Pairing Charles Strouse’s “An English Teacher” and Cy Coleman’s “Baby, Dream Your Dream” was a good choice but Adolph Green’s tour de force, “One Hundred Easy Ways” (to lose a man), really showed off her fine acting skills.

Barbara Brussell speaks to her audience in every song with the help of musical director Tex Arnold and director Eric Michael Gillett.

Barbara Brussell continues at the Metropolitan Room April 4, 10 & 11.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
April 2, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org