No, the Hart in the title does not refer to Stefanie Powers' starring role in the hit 80s TV hit Hart to Hart, but rather to the lyricist Lorenz Hart, who partnered with Richard Rodgers on many memorable songs prior to his untimely death in 1943. Powers is an adequate singer with little nuance or style infused into the selections, which robs a number like the opener, “With a Song in My Heart,” and “My Funny Valentine,” of any real life. She is also too classy and stiff to pull off the Ruth Etting taxi-dancing lament, “Ten Cents a Dance.” The arrangements are a tad too literal, not allowing the vocal a chance to breathe or soar.

We do get a glimpse of some possibilities on two outstanding numbers: a history of the evolution of “Blue Moon,” and “Zip” from the musical Pal Joey. Powers gives us the first draft of the melody that was to become “Blue Moon,” written for Jean Harlow and entitled “Prayer” and intended for the movie Hollywood Party. With lyrics like “Oh Lord, if you're not busy up there/I ask for help with a prayer/So please don't give me the air,” it was cut from the film. Its second version, given new lyrics, was the title song for a Myrna Loy/Clark Gable movie called Manhattan Melody but also was cut before release. It was restored in a nightclub scene as “The Bad In Every Man.” The last version was released as a commercial hit after Hart rewrote the lyrics we all know today.

Powers loses her controlled, studious approach on the name-list stripper number “Zip” and that’s a good thing. With some better arrangements and more abandon, she could elevate this show to more than just a biography. She’s already got the charm and beauty covered.

(Photo: Pat Johnson)

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
October 2, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org