If someone should discover that singing is a good way to train for a race, soon-to-be marathon runner Nicole Spano will easily place among the top ten. Attractive and sparkling with personality, she opened with the perennial crowd pleaser from Sweet Charity, “Big Spender.”  She followed with a swinging set of Sinatra songs, including “Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week),” accompanied by a wink and a whispered “not really,” stating the obvious—that she doesn’t sit alone by the telephone.

Spano’s middle range was particularly rich and her top notes had a perfect, bell-like quality.  This was especially true with tunes by Sara Bareilles—“Fairytale,” “Bluebird” and “Gonna Get Over You”—written with Sam Farrar.  With strong support from Musical Director Neal Kirkwood, Spano performed several smart choices from legendary songwriters such as Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields, Bart Howard, Cole Porter and Maury Yeston, often with the seldom heard verses.  Her musical comedy skills were evident in “Always a Bridesmaid” from I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” and “Be Italian” from Nine.

The singing got even better as the night went on.  “Big Spender” might have had more resonance later in the program, but one appreciates why a singer employs the blockbuster opener.  The encore number, “That’s Life,” ideal for an aging crooner, didn’t seem to fit Spano’s persona.  Given her excellent renditions of the ballads, another may have been a more effective way to end the delightful show.  Perhaps the best performance of the evening was “Why Don’t You Do Right,” a huge hit for Peggy Lee with Benny Goodman in 1947.  If Nicole Spano should ever need a new audition number, she only has to sing the song as she did at DTM and the gig will be hers.

Jerry Osterberg
Cabaret Scenes
September 19, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org