When pondering the Madoff Ponzi scheme, it seems most everyone has an acquaintance or distant relative who was lured in. Miss Crane (who lost both homes to the ruse) was refreshingly free of bitterness, offering a light entertainment in regard to these matters.

By choosing the “The Spider and the Fly” to open, Crane nimbly sets up the proceedings. This type of song—brisk and comical—showed her strongest assets: a dark and full lower register, easily produced and her ability to inflect the lyrics with a polished phrasing that can only be earned by experiencing a full life on and off stage.

The fact that John Denver’s estate was looted by Madoff made for some interesting anecdotes. The range of Denver’s songs presented went from the lame “Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Night in Canada)” to the classic “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane,” leading me to conclude that Denver was much more suited to writing romantic songs than political ones.

The ballads in the higher keys (“Prelude to a Kiss”) proved to be less successful vocally than the novelties and I would suggest that Crane not put herself through such difficulties, as she has enough to offer her audience as an alto.

Cynthia returns to Don't Tell Mama Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
November 30, 2009