Robert Cuccioli, Tony nominee for Broadway’s Jekyll & Hyde, continues to make the ladies swoon in this recent Feinstein’s one-night debut show entitled A Standard Love. As he explained, it’s all about excitement, discovery, elation and therapy and features the music of the Great American Songbook—the “standards.”

Opening with a Sinatra favorite, “The Look of Love” (Cahn/Van Heusen), Cuccioli proceeded to give a blow-by-blow description how the “notches” add up through a lifetime of romance. He’s a crooner exuding sex appeal who brought out many fans, including his fan club president, who flew in from Atlanta, Ga. With ease, this charmer brought an intimacy to Cole Porter’s “All of You,” an amusing suaveness to a swingin’ “A Fine Romance,” followed by an intense “I Wanna Be Around.” All the while he regales his audience with playful tales of love. A slow and soulful “Prisoner of Love” expressed the pain. Eventually, as many discover through the trials and tribulations of love’s obsession, one reaches a place where “I Like to Lead When I Dance” (Cahn/Van Heusen) landing comfortably as “The Folks Who Live on the Hill.”

With musical forethought, the song choices provided a beginning, middle and an end with many clever arrangements by maestro Barry Levitt on piano, accompanied by Jon Burr on bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums. Cuccioli transfers easily from the Broadway stage to the intimacy of a cabaret room and many would be delighted to see and hear more.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
October 11, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org