If Plan A— to be a theater star by age 30—stalls, what should Plan B be? That’s the dilemma on the table, along with your minimum two drinks, in cheery, charming, chatty Megan Hutten’s darling debut at The Duplex. It’s cabaret-cliché-cute autobiographical framework, but bright-voiced Megan does the “big dreams/smaller success much pluck, little luck” bit well. And of course, it’s all newish to her, like “The Girl in 14-G” is; as a judge in the MetroStar competition elsewhere, I’d just heard three hopefuls sing it. But it’s ideal for one who can do comic frenzy and operatic trills. More originality and ingénue-ances are needed. She hasn’t grown into lonely lament “Black Coffee” yet, but she’s excellent with sharp comic timing and the needed “awkwardness” in “The Morning After” (Goldrich/Heisler).

At the piano, William Demaniow, alternates between being personal/musical support system and a gently wisecracking sidekick who also writes songs. At times, enthusiasm (or something) leads him to overly-forceful playing. Likewise, Megan can come on too strong, over-eager (the opening Applause medley), spoken set-ups for songs sometimes laboriously shoe-horned into her narrative. Still, much is solid and strong and likeable. She could be a keeper. Plan B gets an A for effort; overall, B or B-minus, but with many pluses. I’d return to see her cabaret or musical theater plan C—or hear her C.D.

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
July 9, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org