Accomplished veterans Ann and Liz team up to make one heckuva great sister act in this continuation of their critically acclaimed shows Sibling Revelry and Relative Harmony. From Tony nominations to MAC Awards, from writing TV theme songs to acclaimed CDs, these two are seriously accomplished performers who convey a true sense of joy in working with each other in an evening that showcases their individual talents as well as their skill at duets.

Ann is more swing/jazz and blues with a husky alto. She let loose on “Pick Yourself Up,” scatting to an arpeggio of Johann Sebastian Bach. Liz is more Broadway-oriented, hitting a high note with “Something Wonderful” and “Meadowlark.” Both are expressive and competent vocalists. The arrangements of duets is key to their success, and here the sisters work the duets successfully. “Stormy Weather”/“When the Sun Comes Out” gives each sister a chance to exhibit her wares, then fuse musically. The sum of the parts should be greater in a duet and a good example is the lovely Carly Simon hit “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be,” with each sister taking heartfelt emotional turns before blending their voices seamlessly. A huge medley included a compilation of cute duets. Of course, no female duets medley could miss “Get Happy”/”Happy Days Are Here Again” which is presented as well. For an encore, the sisters sang “Our Time” from Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along. (Liz’s Broadway debut.)

(Photo Pat Johnson)

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
April 26, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org