The songs that John Bucchino (pictured) writes are lessons in living—about falling in love (“That Smile”), discovering love (“It Feels Like Home”), the end of a relationship (“If I Ever Say I’m Over You”), controlling your own life (“Taking the Wheel”). These and others of his songs, 22 in all, were brought movingly to the stage in a revival of It’s Only Life, a revue originally produced in 2004 and presented in November for one evening at Birdland. The cast consisted of seven show-stopping young actor-singers who had just performed the show in their native Australia, and who voluntarily paid their own ways to New York for this one performance. Dressed casually, seated on stools across the back of the stage, then stepping front for their individual numbers, they were Christian Cavallo, Phoebe Coupe, Zack Anthony Curran, Madeleine Featherby, Laura Fitzpatrick, Sam Rabbone and Cameron Thomas.

The stars of the evening were Bucchino’s songs: monologues in music, a kaleidoscope of experiences and feelings captured through familiar images (“On My Bedside Table,” “Painting My Kitchen,” “Playbill,” “Sweet Dreams”) and, perhaps, his best-known song, “Grateful.” Group numbers included “That Smile” and the title song, both arranged by Jason Robert Brown, and “The Artist at 40” and “A Glimpse of the Weave,” both with vocal arrangements by Bucchino.

Accompanying warmly on piano throughout the show— and also performing one instrumental solo, “Progression”—was John Bucchino, who joined the cast for the final bow. The group and the songs were greeted by cheers. Among them: mine.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
November 14, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org