Keen intelligence, especially thoughtful interpretations and vocal variety — with superb accompaniment — combined to make Moira Danis's new show of choice material an excellent choice for the discerning cabaret-goer. Named for the moving Janis Ian/Kyle Fleming song done movingly with empathy here, Some People's Lives brought 20 lives to life. This is cabaret at its best: songs as character pieces, performed by someone who can act the lyrics as well as sing sublimely, with many colors. As it happened, she had a cold and had to struggle a bit (a few sniffles, wisely no excuses), but she rose to the occasion and made the show a real occasion. Perhaps it made her draw more on her dramatic skills to portray characters ranging from a schoolgirl experiencing puppy love (the endearing "Joshua Noveck" by Doug Bernstein and Denis Markel) to an old woman sweetly commenting on young lovers sharing her subway ride (Christine Lavin's "Ain't Love Grand"). Directed with attentive care to detail and clarity by Gerry Geddes, points of view and points made in lyric come into high relief. A series of numbers focused on coming to terms with wide-eyed, love-at-first-sight romantic dreams nurtured by the tale of Cinderella.

Three pages from the Stephen Sondheim songbook come up ("On the Steps of the Palace" and both "Another Hundred People" and "Being Alive" from Company); unlike many singers, she and her musicians generally don't present a close copy of the original versions and tempos. "Another Hundred People" is the least inventive, sounding too close to the way another hundred people have done it, but the others are more personalized and looser. Also included, and standing up strongly among these, is work by younger writers like Scott Alan ("And There It Is"), Sara Bareilles ("Fairytale") and Susan Werner's confrontational, thought-provoking song "(Why Is Your) Heaven So Small."

Moira generously shares the spotlight with her talented musicians — all of whom also sing, allowing for striking harmonies and some solo moments, with Jimmy Webb's "The Highwayman" a dramatic highlight.  They are bassist Colin Killalea, percussionist Brian Griffin and the gifted pianist/Musical Director Wells Hanley (he and Moira duet for some country goofball fun, trading insults with "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly").  As the show came close to a close, the singer referred to the lives portrayed in the collection of portraits of Some People's Lives, commenting, "There's still one character left:.....Me."  And she sang with delicacy and passion about not wanting to be "Unknown."  She won't be to those who are known for their taste, as she and her team are.

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
December 5, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org