Ever wonder about those “one-hit wonders,” pop-rock radio smasheroos by singers and groups whose follow-ups don’t follow suit or don’t suit them?  A star is born, a star disappears. The big “happening” often becomes “Whatever happened to…?” Cheery Kim Grogg seems less concerned with their postscripts – which could flesh out this show’s Human Interest Story Department— breezily rekindling brief flames, singing some treasures and a whole lot of guilty pleasures.  More jammed into medleys might be wiser, as passing nods or grimaces sufficed for some (for some of us).  Beaming positive energy and brisk good spirits, brio-filled belt, eyes a-twinkle, she makes her audience smile with fond recollection or a collective blush recalling everything from the alleged delight of “Afternoon Delight” to the mega-hit “You Light Up My Life” to the theme from The Greatest American Hero (“Believe It Or Not”). Believe it or not, for truth in advertising, she even gamely entered dressed in Wonder Womanesque regalia, recreating her show’s perky postcard. There was no shortage of spunk or even funk, with these elements: beloved cabaret godfather Sidney Myer aboard for an audacious medley of ditties and drek (and to make “Volare” fly); pumped popmeister Steven Ray Watkins leading a trio; Rain Collazzo and Wendy Russell in blazing red providing rock-solid vocal back-up.  Full-of-vim Kim even got the audience to find a sing-along way into “Wimoweh” (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”).  Lennie Watts directed with party-hearty panache.  But… what? No Singing Nun “Dominique” or “Monster Mash”?  Bring on Part Two of a One-Hit Wonderland!

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
October 18, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org