There’s a lot that’s heartfelt in Heart, & Home even if the performer isn’t fully at home on the cabaret stage.  It’s Sarah Kimball’s debut, but a far more promising debut than many. Overly earnest at times, yes; there’s a need to relax into her stage “self” and the songs, yes.  But she has an attractive, solid voice with good intonation. She radiates sincerity as a person, even if she’s not totally convincing conveying all the shades of emotion in a challenging, eclectic repertoire that ranged from Annie Lennox’s “Cold” to the cold-hearted, vindictive “Pirate Jenny” (The Threepenny Opera) from the lively “Gumbo Moon” to the cozy “Moonlight in Vermont.” Phrasing in that remarkably rhyme-free standard, with its stated appreciation of Nature’s beauty, needs to be more snuggly-sweet in this ode to her home sweet home state.  Pianist/Musical Director Rick Jensen was nimble with Kimball, playing subtext and subtleties, in richly-layered arrangements, supportively, encouragingly easing her into the moods. His frequent creative collaborator, director Lina Koutrakos, shaped an ambitious, mature program that built in honesty and daring. Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird” — a highlight — was moving and balm-like, with persuasive power.

The scripted patter was admirably economic, but sometimes felt too unnatural on opening night, with a disconcerting habit of chuckling similarly at memories and observations.  The grateful enthusiasm and love of performing — and I don’t mean “showing off” — were very real, however.   As Sarah Kimball gets inside the songs more, she’ll get closer to the inside track.  She’ll be interesting to track.  And she’ll be back.

Sarah Kimball has just booked one more date and it’s this week: Wednesday, June 29.

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
June 26, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org