Cabaret Scenes Review - Liz lark Brown

“Stand back, New York City! Because you oughta know whatcha gonna get in me… Just a little touch of star quality.” (From Evita Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.)

Directed by Lennie Watts, Liz Lark Brown, with a fireball band of musicians, brought her Tarnished show of quirkiness and polished vocal prowess to the Metropolitan Room, the scene of her 2009 MetroStar Talent Challenge win. Quirky is good. It adds a tang of surprise and discovery to a show and, when it’s backed up by a confident belt, you may just find you’ve got an addition to your list of favorite entertainers. Of course, you may also decide this rather wacky sense of humor is not your cup of tea. In any case, Liz Lark Brown is worth a visit.

This vibrant show is driven by illustrations of her “tarnished” past, the mistakes with men, the bad choices. Songs ranging from pop to Broadway include “I’ll Show Him” by Arnold Horwitt and Albert Hague from Plain and Fancy, and a hell-bent pairing of “Leather” (Tori Amos) with “Hanky Panky” (Madonna/Patrick Leonard). Discussing the unending celebrity of Britney Spears, she delivers Joe Iconis and Robert Maddock’s “Popular Opinion.” A standout is her moving delivery of John Mayer’s “Dreaming with a Broken Heart,” devoted to her late mother. The five-piece band is led by Musical Director/pianist/backup vocalist Nate Buccieri, with Sean Harkness on guitar, Matt Wigton on bass, Joe Iconis on keyboard, accordion and vocals, and backup vocalist, Heidi Weymueller.

Brown energetically throws her all into this show, proving versatile acting, a wacky sense of humor and a power belt, although her lyrics are occasionally muddled in the racing arrangements. In addition, the theme sometimes nears a self-centered edge.

Why title her show, Tarnished? It refers to a critical comment about the validity of the Metro Star win, not her abilities, but a technicality of the judging. It’s good for a laugh, but the fact that Brown keeps referring back to being tarnished throughout the show can sound somewhat defensive. Just an impression. Let it go, Liz.

Carole J. Bufford, second runner-up in the 2009 MetroStar Talent Challenge, is Brown’s opening act at this performance. (At others, Danielle Grabianowski, the other 2009 runner-up, opens for Liz.) Carole will present her own show at the Metropolitan Room in October.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
September 22, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Liz Lark Brown Tarnished Metropolitan Room New York, NY
“Stand back, New York City! Because you oughta know whatcha gonna get in me… Just a little touch of star quality.” (From Evita Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.) Directed by Lennie Watts, Liz Lark Brown, with a fireball band of musicians, brought her Tarnished show of quirkiness and polished vocal prowess to the Metropolitan Room, the scene of her 2009 MetroStar Talent Challenge win. Quirky is good. It adds a tang of surprise and discovery to a show and, when it’s backed up by a confident belt, you may just find you’ve got an addition to your list of favorite entertainers. Of course, you may also decide this rather wacky sense of humor is not your cup of tea. In any case, Liz Lark Brown is worth a visit. This vibrant show is driven by illustrations of her “tarnished” past, the mistakes with men, the bad choices. Songs ranging from pop to Broadway include “I’ll Show Him” by Arnold Horwitt and Albert Hague from Plain and Fancy, and a hell-bent pairing of “Leather” (Tori Amos) with “Hanky Panky” (Madonna/Patrick Leonard). Discussing the unending celebrity of Britney Spears, she delivers Joe Iconis and Robert Maddock’s “Popular Opinion.” A standout is her moving delivery of John Mayer’s “Dreaming with a Broken Heart,” devoted to her late mother. The five-piece band is led by Musical Director/pianist/backup vocalist Nate Buccieri, with Sean Harkness on guitar, Matt Wigton on bass, Joe Iconis on keyboard, accordion and vocals, and backup vocalist, Heidi Weymueller. Brown energetically throws her all into this show, proving versatile acting, a wacky sense of humor and a power belt, although her lyrics are occasionally muddled in the racing arrangements. In addition, the theme sometimes nears a self-centered edge. Why title her show, Tarnished? It refers to a critical comment about the validity of the Metro Star win, not her abilities, but a technicality of the judging. It’s good for a laugh, but the fact that Brown keeps referring back to being tarnished throughout the show can sound somewhat defensive. Just an impression. Let it go, Liz. Carole J. Bufford, second runner-up in the 2009 MetroStar Talent Challenge, is Brown’s opening act at this performance. (At others, Danielle Grabianowski, the other 2009 runner-up, opens for Liz.) Carole will present her own show at the Metropolitan Room in October. Elizabeth Ahlfors Cabaret Scenes September 22, 2010 www.cabaretscenes.org

Liz Lark Brown

Tarnished

Metropolitan Room New York, NY

Metropolitan Room
New York, NY