Marilyn Maye not only sings “Young at Heart” (Johnny Richards/Carolyn Leigh), she epitomizes it. The seasoned pro leads us through a range of material few would tackle and fewer handle successfully. Grouping her choices by theme or songwriters, she offers everything from jazzed-up numbers out of My Fair Lady: “Mr. Lerner and Mr. Loewe, we apologize—but not much,” (but for the word “loverly,” these suddenly sound contemporary), to swinging Fats Waller/Andy Razaf, from waltzy pieces by standard bearers to easy pop.

150% in charge, Maye’s rapport with her audience is immediate and strong. Moving back and forth across the stage to see and be seen, she leans out, locks eyes, and draws us in with the warmth of her voice and sheer, contagious joy of performing. “Butter Outa Cream” (Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman from the show Catch Me If You Can) and Randy Newman’s “I Love to See You Smile” are utterly charming. Fats Waller numbers are so filled with attitude and suited to her voice, we only wish she’d sing entire songs instead of snippets.

There is next to no patter here, which is a shame. An inadvertent conversation with an audience member is both fun and respite. Reference to the late, great Margaret Whiting leads to eight bars each of songs by Whiting’s talented father, Richard, which are wonderful. An evening of his material would be a treat.

Maye is a master of phrasing. Not a lyrical meaning is distracted by the music. “Blues in the Night” and “Come Rain or Come Shine” (both by Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer) are flat-out, winner-take-all moments.  Gabriel has his horn, Maye her voice.  She makes “It Might as Well Be Spring” (Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II) completely personal. “I’m as jumpy as a Gentile in the Catskills,” an audience member pipes up, helpfully replacing a forgotten line.

'What are we doing now, honey?” Maye asks Musical Director Tedd Firth. (Tom Hubbard is on bass and Jim Eklof is on drums.) Even forgetting lyrics, she’s never less than polished. Put ’em on the music stand. We’re with you all the way!  Marilyn Maye is a classic. Evergreen and still up-to-date. Rip-roaring entertainment.

Alix Cohen
Cabaret Scenes
May 24, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org