We asked for it and we got it and then some! In Christine Lavin’s show, You Asked For It: Her Most Requested Songs, she pulled out all the stops and, along with many of her most clever and entertaining original songs, she presented a smorgasbord of tales, tricks and guest troubadours, all providing an evening of fun, frolic and even a favorite recipe!

The irrepressible Lavin, a virtual folk-singing dynamo and highly respected songwriter across many genres, started off with a timely anecdote about having been Jets’ coach Rex Ryan’s babysitter years ago. How lucky can one guy get? I can’t think of anyone sweeter, more adorable or creative to take care of any child.

Most requested songs included: “Air Conditioner,” a humorous ode to what women are really looking for in a man; “The Amoeba Hop,” accompanied by a giant children’s book version illustrated by Betsy Franco Feeney that demonstrated the impact Lavin has had on musical appreciation for the younger set; the poignant “The Kind of Love You Never Recover From,” as interpreted by the lovely Colleen McHugh; and of course, an all male chorus of "Sensitive New Age Guys."

The very talented and ruggedly handsome Jeff Daniels, who, we discovered, sings and plays guitar as well as he acts, was one of several celebrity guests. The indefatigable Ervin Drake gave us his most moving and powerful renditions of “Good Morning, Heartache” and It Was a Very Good Year” to date, and Julie Gold, a treasured friend and longtime colleague of Lavin’s, sang her famous anthem, “From a Distance,” and touched us to our cores!

Some introductions could have been nipped a bit, but the long and short of it is that Christine Lavin has a singular voice and presence. After nearly forty years in the business, she has earned the right to do just about anything on stage. She’s just that lovable!

Lynn DiMenna
Cabaret Scenes
January 17, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org