It was an exciting, uplifting and poignant evening celebrating three years of the Laurie Beechman Theatre. For one night only, invited performers from Broadway and cabaret poured their talents out on the small Beechman stage to a packed audience.  Phil Bond produced and directed a valentine to his years at the Beechman, and musical director Barry Levitt led his trio with energy, rhythm and masterly support.

Out of 18 accomplished entertainers, there were many ultra-plus moments.  Everyone has personal favorites, but I would bet that Heather Mac Rae is included on everyone's short list. From the off-Broadway revue, A My Name is Still Alice, she had the audience in the palm of her hand when she sang "Wheels" (Amanda McBroom), following a woman's life via the wheels of a baby carriage to a bike to a car and eventually the wheels of a shopping cart filled with tin cans pushed hopelessly along the street: "When you have wheels, you know how it feels to be free."  Mac Rae sang the story with astute comprehension and nuanced strength.

Since so many singers came from theater, they chose smart narrative songs by the younger generation of theater songwriters, which formed sophisticated arcs and came to conclusions.  Barbara Walsh sang Jason Robert Brown's "Stars and the Moon," from Songs for a New World, a song of innocent desires, making choices and their consequences.  Alexander Geminiani at the piano delivered a moving rendition of Adam Guettel's, "How Glory Goes" (Floyd Collins), with its true American feel.  In the same mood is Stephen Lutvak's "Museums," a man's search for his father and himself.

The program included great funny moments. Cindy Marchionda began "Goody Goody" (Mercer/Malneck) with a circumspect "goody" squeak and ended with a belting – "GOODY!" – and a defiant, wriggling booty.  Christine Pedi was hilarious in, "I Will Survive" (Perren/Fekaris) with snippets of everyone from Streisand, Rivers, Bette Davis (fabulous!) and Katherine Hepburn, just to name an astounding few.  Joe Iconis and his blue-grass band of nutty hillbillies sang "The Whiskey Song," (Iconis) and another country music/comic team, The Chalks, delivered their quirky "Mud-Flap Mama."  Jana Robbins fit her own non-striptease into Rodgers and Hart's, "Zip" (Pal Joey) and Molly Pope was a delight with "In the Meantime."

Both Gabrielle Stravelli with "Please Don't Tempt Me," (J.B. Flatt) and Annie Golden in her original tribute to "Clara Bow," had real charm.  Phil Geoffrey Bond's letter to Carol Burnett made me want to hear more about his, "...Queer Youth."  The humor is gentle, the sentiment is universal.

These actor/singers brought the songs to life with their theater training and their personal cabaret communication.  "Both Sides Now" (Joni Mitchell) by cabaret's Lisa Asher showed a fresh, personal attitude, bringing the two-hour, well-paced show to a satisfying close.  Cheers to Phil Bond and partner Kenny Bell.  Cheers to the Laurie Beechman Theatre for an enjoyable evening of music and laughs.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
September 19, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org