In a hip and hilarious one-night only performance at Birdland, Amanda Green pondered Who's Worse Than People—And Other Songs of the Season. The Heartwarming Lyrics of Amanda Green. Green, dressed in a plain white blouse, black skirt and feet strapped into madly sequined stilettos, proved again that she has the lyrical DNA and the personality-plus genes of her parents, Adolph Green and Phyllis Newman. While aided by a few of Broadway's best—David Pittu (Lovemusik), Jenn Colella (Urban Cowboy), Jenifer Foote (A Chorus Line), and Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid)—the songs were pure Green, well-crafted, literate, and smart.

With her imaginative stamp of humor and honesty, Amanda Green brings a contemporary woman's viewpoint to universal themes. Using influences of pop, rock, theater and Nashville, she has a skewering colloquialism and she aims it right to the brain and the heart. When she sang "On Daddy's Shoulders," written for her father, tears were spotted around the room, some tightly held back, others flowing, including Amanda herself. She pointed out that she also wrote a song for her mother, tracing Newman's stages through life as she asked herself, "What' happened to the dish on the stage?" It was funny, it was real, and it was all Newman who was in the audience.

Green tosses the unexpected into her lyrics. Discussing her age, she admitted, "I'm 30-something." She then narrowed it down to, "I'm 30-11." Finally, the truth, "I'm 30-13." Some songs she wrote alone. Others were collaborations with composers like Tom Kitt and Larry Grossman, but whatever she sang, Green delivered with dashes of energy, savvy and sex appeal.

From the short-lived Broadway musical, High Fidelity, David Pittu sang the clipped, stabbing words, "I'm Ready to Settle (For You)" and Jenn Colella, backed by a rock beat, delivered "She Goes." Jenifer Foote was touchingly vulnerable with "On My Perfect Day." "If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?" turned the sharp humor inward, black comedy with a heartbreaking edge. Whether a song is a ballad or a delightful "Little Bo Peep" in three-sheep-harmony, it never loses its touch on reality.

Green and the singers were supported by musical director Matt Gallagher, with Damien Bassman on drums and guitarist Mike Aarons. Composers Larry Grossman and Tom Witt moved to the piano for some tunes.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
February 2, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org