With a Twist offered up a collection of mostly Broadway talent taking a night off from singing theater songs to try their chops at pop. Among the evening’s highlights was Havilland Stilwell showing off her powerful voice on “Respect” (Otis Redding), backed by Kristy Hanson, Brooke Tansley and Ryan O’Connor — the latter mugging his way to hilarious effect in his role as a doo-wop singer.

Tansley and Talia Thiesfield, calling themselves a “style duo,” combined their voices effectively on the Bonnie Tyler hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart” ((Jim Steinman), while David Burnham offered a full-throttle take on Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” with harmonies provided by Mark Vogel, who served as Burnham’s accompanist. Arielle Jacobs displayed her sweet, angelic voice on a solid version of the Lennon-McCartney “If I Fell,” and Anthony Starble promised “something emotional and powerful” in advance of delivering a soulful version of the rap song “Tik-Tok” (Benjamin Levine/Lukasz Gottwald/Kesha). Jennifer Malenke offered an opera-like take on Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City,” with terrific vocal beat-box backing from Rene Ruiz. A strong-voiced Kristy Hanson accompanied herself on guitar while singing “Rolling in the Deep” (Paul Epworth/Adele) and Julie Garnye improvised her way through Freddie Mercuty’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” backed up by most of the cast.

Some singers chose to depart from the pop theme and go their own way, with O’Connor — who described himself as “a fat character actor” trying to take A Chorus Line back for the fat people — performing a brilliant, hilarious parody of “At the Ballet” (Marvin Hamlisch/Edward Kleban) called “At the Buffet,” which he wrote with Ashley Reed. Todd Buonopane (pictured) also opted for Broadway, doing a hilarious version of “Everybody’s Girl” (Kander & Ebb, from Steel Pier) — “not a pop song,” he explained, “but certainly one with a twist.” Tom Lenk displayed his own strong comedy chops in “Master Cleanse,” which he wrote himself.

The performers were effectively supported by Brent Crayon on piano.  Garnye and partner Amber Cassell are the producing team, called The Coterie, that will be booking the new cabaret room at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel & Spa.

Elliot Zwiebach
Cabaret Scenes
October 6, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org