Melissa Strauss exudes a lively personality when she talks and a lot of power when she sings. In her first solo cabaret turn, her patter was light and amusing and she showed serious chops in her singing — a very good legitimate voice with a nice vibrato that added depth.

Her choice of songs was brilliant as she dipped into a variety of eras to comment on her life: a soft and simple “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” (Harry Carroll/Joseph McCarthy, from themes by Chopin) to illustrate her aspirations; a powerful, sincere “You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want to Do It)” (James Monaco/Joseph McCarthy) when talking about her husband, followed by a sweet “I Got Lost in His Arms” (Irving Berlin) that featured her own phrasing, distinct from the original Broadway version; and an amusing, too-brief “Sadie, Sadie” (Jule Styne/Bob Merrill) to represent her married life, which again featured her own unique take on the phrasing.

Her most contemporary song was “Get Out and Stay Out” (Dolly Parton, from 9 to 5: The Musical) — about her early misadventures in Hollywood — which, though well acted, sounded a bit strident in its delivery, a point even Strauss commented on at the end of the song.  But she recovered her equilibrium on the medley that followed — a description of her unpleasant neighbors in an over-the-top pairing of Sondheim’s “Losing My Mind” and “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” that enabled her to act like she herself might be losing her mind.

Scott Strauss, the singer’s husband, came out from behind his drums to perform a brilliant segment with her on what their life might be like if they were a Las Vegas act, riffing individually on Celine Dion and Elvis, among others, and combining to salute Steve and Eydie and then Sonny and Cher (with Scott on his knees to simulate the height difference).  All that was missing was a salute to the original Vegas power couple, Louis Prima and Keely Smith — maybe next time.

Besides solid support on drums from her husband, Strauss was ably backed by Musical Director Steven Applegate on piano and Don Bookman on saxophone, including powerful solos during “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” and “I Got Lost in His Arms.”  The show was directed by Michael Sterling and Tony Monsour.

Elliot Zwiebach
Cabaret Scenes
April 3, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org