Alexander Sage Oyen is not the only teenager to record a CD, but, at 19, he must have one of the most impressive pedigrees in the music business. Oyen's mother, Lois Sage, made her cabaret debut at The Duplex in 1977 and continued to perform until he was born. Happily, she imparted plenty of experience and talent to her son during the long sabbatical, and Alex clearly paid attention.

With a first-rate troupe of performers, including Lois Sage, Oyen presented an appealing array of original songs, singing “No Pity” and “Making My Own Way” at the beginning and end of the program, respectively. Many of the songs were written from the perspective of a young man or woman looking for inspiration, change, love and acceptance. Every singer was suited to the song and the performances reflected a respectable amount of theatre background, including Broadway – Annie Get Your Gun and American Idiot; Off-Broadway and Regional – Seussical, Triumph of Love and The Most Happy Fella; and cabaret – Feinstein's, Joe's Pub and the Laurie Beechman.

Several numbers are contained in Oyen's debut recording with three singers reprising their roles: Courtney Hammond with “Amelia,” alluding to Amelia Earhart and “the day that changed my life”; Elanna White with “Happy,” as a woman expressing regret over a failed relationship–“She should have been me...I'm happy for them”; and Lois Sage who performed the title song—“If I knew better, I would never have loved you at all.” One expected Sage to deliver the song in a full, rich voice bursting with emotion, and she did. But there was nothing disappointing about Hammond and White's singing, all of which was of high caliber.

Other performances of note included: Katie Gassert in “I Don't Wanna Lie” as someone who's comes to realize that she really does love the guy after all; Jeanna de Waal singing “This Girl” about a confident young woman who's “heading for adventure,” “going to change the world” and believes that she's loved by everyone; and “Time Is Standing Still,” an evocative song performed by Trevor McQueen in a straightforward, forceful style. McQueen is an exceptional performer as are Gassert and de Waal.

Besides singing, Oyen acted as musical director, playing piano and guitar. Courtney Hammond directed, the drummer was Christopher Moses Kinlow, Benjamin Rauhala assisted on piano and Brandon Ellis, who made his Broadway debut in Company, played bass and cello. Alexander Sage Oyen succeeded due to his singular songwriting skills and the company—Jake Odmark, Danny Visconti and Yaniv Zarif among them. It was a lovely surprise to encounter a revue in all but name, every tune interpreted with such pizzazz that neither the singers nor the songs will be forgotten soon.

Jerry Osterberg
Cabaret Scenes
June 20, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org