These boys aren’t the first twins who have gone into the music biz.  But they may be the first male identicals!

The nice thing about the Nunziatas, however, is that they like the Great American Songbook, an unusual affinity for the younger set—but more than welcome. Paying homage to Michael Feinstein, they opened with “Swing Is Back in Style” and then launched into the top four questions people ask them: Who’s older? Are you competitive?, etc. These Pelham, NY, boys—also tennis champs—are pretty smooth in their repartee and play well off each other. I admit that, at the outset, I felt I was in the Catskills watching a pair of comics going through their antics. But comics don’t usually sing as well as Will and Anthony—and surely aren’t as charming.

When they got through the Borscht Belt shtick—“When the Saints Go Marching In”/"Lullaby of Broadway” and an overly-interpreted “Teach Me Tonight,” I listened more closely to a quiet haunting solo vocal by Anthony of “Willow Weep for Me” and the tender style and good harmony of “The Prayer” (Italian and English). A round of Sondheim (“Pretty Women,” “No More”) added some depth. The anthem-like “Ray of Hope” was delivered with drama and lots of heart as was the encore, “Get Happy”/ “Happy Days Are Here Again” with all the Garland and Streisand gusto they could muster.

Richard Jay-Alexander directs; Ben Toth musically directs (sans shoes) and Jered Egan is on bass.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
April 20, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org