Let me get right to the point. Without a doubt, this is one of the best debut performances I’ve seen! Ms. Harris’s show cleverly describes her angst, frustrations, loneliness and emotional roller coaster ride in the arena of love. Perhaps it’s more than we want or need to know, but her ability to uncover the essence, musically and lyrically, and share the experiences, requires a skill many performers would hope to attain.

Harris’s voice is big and powerful, yet soft and sweet as needed. It’s folksy, Broadway, pop and rock. She knows how to reign it in, add nuances and place the stress points, as in the “romantic” song for one, “Making Love Alone,” or the sad ballad “How to Fight Loneliness.” Utilizing an acting background, she’s honing her art. With soul exposed, she tearfully sang “Lost in the Wilderness,” “We Belong” and “Hey Jupiter”/“Northern Lad.” Harris is very connected to her material and expressive.

Her running dialogue is witty, truthful and easy, sharing funny stories like the one about when she was seven years old, throwing Barbie dolls into trees to be rescued by Ken dolls, the dolls making love, which meant rubbing Ken’s backside on Barbie’s chest.

With backup singers Rheaume Crenshaw and Tara Moran, Musical Director Michael James Roy, Robert Maril on cello and Eli Thomas on guitar, this is a show to be seen by young hopefuls and everyone else for pure enjoyment. Harris is directed by Austin Helms. Colleen can also be seen at New World Stages on Monday evenings where she runs an Open Mic.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
June 8, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org