There is a sparkling new talent in the world of cabaret. Merrill Grant debuted on the New York club scene with a salute to the Shirley Temple years. If you only identify the child star through some saccharine impersonations, you might judge a Shirley Temple tribute could be too sweet for even a dentist's touch. If, however, you have seen any of Shirley's magnetic performances, you would be impressed at the professionalism, poise, musicality and charm of a child who began making movies at age three. In her show, Merrill Grant evoked the spirit of the 1930s, a time of economic darkness brightened by this one irresistible singing tiny tot who personified the tune "Be Optimistic" from Little Miss Broadway (Bullock and Spina).

Wisely, Grant did not concentrate only on Shirley Temple songs or her own impressions of Temple's sound. She included the bouncy favorites like "At the Codfish Ball" (Mitchell/Pollack) from Captain January, and Rainger and Robin's "Laugh You Son of a Gun" (Little Miss Marker) interspersing these with her own bright, versatile soprano voice. She deftly included other singers of the era, recalling Ruth Etting's despair in "Ten Cents a Dance" (Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers) and conjuring up Dorothy Dell as Bangles singing "Low Down Lullaby" in Little Miss Marker. A tough try was summoning the throaty sound of Alice Faye's "When I'm with You" from Poor Little Rich Girl (Gordon/Revel) but Grant pulled it off. Later, she challenged the audience to guess one upcoming impersonation, a no-brainer after the first few notes of "My Favorite Things." A bull's-eye Julie Andrews.

By the end of the show, the audience had an appreciation of why young Merrill Grant was so fascinated by another little girl from an era long gone. From Stowaway, she ended with "Goodnight My Love" (Gordon and Revel), showing her grandmother's Shirley Temple doll, curls now droopy and dress faded, but long treasured.

Grant was accompanied by Jered Egan on bass, Rex Benincasa on percussion, musical director and pianist Paul Trueblood, and the fabulous trumpet player, Warren Vache, who accompanied her on Mitchell/Pollack/Scott's "The Toy Trumpet" (Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm). Directed by Erv Raible, this was a show with interesting facets showcasing a young but accomplished performer. With her theatrical, film, and recording background, Merrill Grant has the acting and vocal finesse, plus stage appeal, which all promises to be fun and impressive to watch unfold.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
June 29, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org