42nd Street Moon, renowned for producing and preserving great theater musicals, presented this long-running show reveling in one of America's greatest musical theater legends. Klea Blackhurst has not fashioned this show as a caricature of Merman with exaggerated vocal mannerisms and a lot of overpowering braying. Instead, her show is a wonderfully scripted, loving homage to her idol sung in her own voice which does, in a small way, hearken back to a young Ethel.

Klea begins her show by saying that people either love Merman or don't love Merman. I fall into the latter category, appreciating the actress more than the big belter. Blackhurst's show turned my image of Merman upside down with lovely, even subtle, songs culled from Merman's prolific collection of Broadway hits. The best remembered hits ("I Got Rhythm," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" and "Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly") are rendered lyrically significant with Klea's gentle deliveries. Lesser-known material, like a medley from Cole Porter's Something for the Boys ("Leader of a Big-Time Band"/ "Hey, Good Lookin’"/ "Something for the Boys") shines. Porter's "Ridin’ High" and the lovely "I Got Lost in His Arms" from Annie Get Your Gun are reborn.  Roger Edens’s very un-Merman-like ballad, "Just a Moment Ago" was a show highlight.

Klea Blackhurst is extremely vivacious, witty and funny with her personal back story, She possesses a lovely alto to showcase some historic American Songbook gems. Her show highlights more than Ethel Merman—it's a great retrospective of an era in musical theater with great composers, stylish lyrics and big stars. Kudos to 42nd Street Moon for presenting this and many more solo projects to come.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
April 21, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org