Tyne Daly is thinking about time these days. Her sparkling debut at the Rrazz Room mixed personal ruminations about the passing of time, lingering nostalgia and future anticipation through both whimsy and dramatic selections. George M. Cohan's bemusing "Life's a Funny Proposition After All" reflects on the seeming strangeness of life. A lovely medley of  "Sonny Boy"/"Ain't No Sunshine" echoes her wistful thoughts about her all-too-quickly grown-up grandson. Two differing takes on the passage of romance are captured in Marilyn Bergman's restrained longing in "That's Him Over There" (music by Lew Spence) and the defiantly avenging jilted lover of a song that used to be sung by Bessie Smith,"Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair." She dug back into her childhood memories for an a capella version of the 13th century's "O Wailey, Wailey."

Daly is a gifted actress and can commandingly sell a song with a mere gesture or look, perfectly realized in a medley from Jerry Herman's Dear World. Conjuring up the fragile insanity of The Madwoman of Chaillot, the songs are made poignant by the sheer force of Daly's power and craftsmanship. Her decision to slow down Buddy Holly's rockabilly hit "Oh, Boy" to a slow ballad was insightful and inspired. Daly is not one to sit on her laurels and bask; rather she's built a solid, confident cabaret act that one might expect from a true star.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
January 12, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org