Cabaret Scenes Review - Sally Riceman

Is Sally Riceman a comedienne or a singer? I’ve just spent two hours watching her, and I can’t answer that question myself.

Sally has a wonderful voice and an amazingly wide range of styles. She’s also a very, very funny woman. Yet, somehow I found the evening unfulfilling, primarily because she didn’t allow us to really enjoy her singing. In the two hours, she sang only twelve songs, cracked too many jokes and related too many anecdotes. It’s not that the jokes and anecdotes aren’t funny, it’s just that at some point they lose their potency, and become almost draining. Less is more.

Only once did she complete a ballad without breaking it up with comedic one-liners—and she even made the point that it was the only serious song she sings. This is very disappointing, not to mention frustrating, because that one song, Sondheim’s “Children Will Listen,” was magical. I longed for that moment in the show, but it was the tenth song of twelve—almost too little too late. I also noticed that she had difficulty pulling the audience in at first because, up to that point, every serious song she started, had to have a wisecrack in it. So, no one was ready for a truly heartfelt song. By the end, though, people did listen. They were rapt, and very appreciative.

Sally even broke up Cheryl Hardwick and Marilyn Suzanne Miller’s “Making Love Alone” to make a joke about a date with herself on New Year’s Eve. That song is already funny enough— there’s no need to try to add more humour.

In a show that’s lacking in ballads, there are plenty of great comedic songs. Her timing is terrific as is her storytelling. My personal favourite was Dick Scanlan/Jeanine Tesori’s “The Girl in 14G,” which really shows off her range of styles.

Sally’s Musical Director/accompanist, Richard Link, gave her terrific support.

I would really like to see Sally again, but only if she were able to have some serious moments in the show. We know you’re funny, Sally. I can also see you can deliver a ballad with heartfelt poignancy. Your show will be much better if you give us both.

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
February 24, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Sally Riceman Pizza on the Park London, UK
Is Sally Riceman a comedienne or a singer? I’ve just spent two hours watching her, and I can’t answer that question myself. Sally has a wonderful voice and an amazingly wide range of styles. She’s also a very, very funny woman. Yet, somehow I found the evening unfulfilling, primarily because she didn’t allow us to really enjoy her singing. In the two hours, she sang only twelve songs, cracked too many jokes and related too many anecdotes. It’s not that the jokes and anecdotes aren’t funny, it’s just that at some point they lose their potency, and become almost draining. Less is more. Only once did she complete a ballad without breaking it up with comedic one-liners—and she even made the point that it was the only serious song she sings. This is very disappointing, not to mention frustrating, because that one song, Sondheim’s “Children Will Listen,” was magical. I longed for that moment in the show, but it was the tenth song of twelve—almost too little too late. I also noticed that she had difficulty pulling the audience in at first because, up to that point, every serious song she started, had to have a wisecrack in it. So, no one was ready for a truly heartfelt song. By the end, though, people did listen. They were rapt, and very appreciative. Sally even broke up Cheryl Hardwick and Marilyn Suzanne Miller’s “Making Love Alone” to make a joke about a date with herself on New Year’s Eve. That song is already funny enough— there’s no need to try to add more humour. In a show that’s lacking in ballads, there are plenty of great comedic songs. Her timing is terrific as is her storytelling. My personal favourite was Dick Scanlan/Jeanine Tesori’s “The Girl in 14G,” which really shows off her range of styles. Sally’s Musical Director/accompanist, Richard Link, gave her terrific support. I would really like to see Sally again, but only if she were able to have some serious moments in the show. We know you’re funny, Sally. I can also see you can deliver a ballad with heartfelt poignancy. Your show will be much better if you give us both. Harold Sanditen Cabaret Scenes February 24, 2010 www.cabaretscenes.org

Sally Riceman

Pizza on the ParkLondon, UK

Pizza on the Park
London, UK