Marianne Challis has got the goods and she knows how to deliver them. When she sings Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane's "Come Back to Me," you will probably do just that if you have gone to her previous parties. With effervescent stage presence and sheer savvy about how to entertain, Challis recently brought her festivities downtown to The Duplex, explaining right off the bat, "A Lot of Livin' to Do" (Strouse and Adams) followed by "Just in Time" (Comden and Green). This is cabaret's hostess with the mostest and everyone leaves a bit intoxicated and with no hangover.

Challis has a knack for patter that clicks with her audience. She shares her familiar experiences, and she delivers them with her own ironic outlook and offbeat humor. A vocal teacher, Challis has a resonant vocal range, a potent belt, and she can bring a subtlety to the lyrics. She is a top interpreter with an eclectic mix in her songbook. A segment dedicated to drums — and how often do you see that? — is "Drum Crazy," a Fred Astaire favorite, with some prime time-keeping by drummer John Redsecker. "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" (Harry Noble) is concentrated down to its essence. It is not a pop classic but it throbs with a youthful passion.

Scott Barnes again directed The Party Continues... Downtown! with the winning formula of Challis' previous soirees. The downtown fete features the added instrumental spirits of 2009 Bistro Award winning music director, Don Rebic, and from the Broadway pit, bassist Dick Sarpola (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me )and the aforementioned drummer Redsecker (The Little Mermaid).

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
June 4, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org