There’s something wonderfully reassuring about Maria Friedman as a performer.  You instantly feel relaxed and in good company.  Tonight was no exception. Friedman was originally going to do a show dedicated to Sondheim (quelle surprise!), but when she steadfastly decided to finish the show with “Somewhere,” Musical Drector and purist Jason Carr rightly pointed out that Sondheim was only the lyricist!  So, tonight’s show incorporated Bernstein as well and, through him, Comden and Green, and Alan Jay Lerner also get airings.

I loved this show and I love Friedman.  She has a beautiful, lyrical voice, which can add a punch in her lower register when she wants.  She’s one of those singers who innately understands her lyrics.  There’s nothing forced, nothing overacted, just simple honesty, and that’s a pleasure to hear and watch. I find her far better at the angst-ridden songs than comedy.  Having said that, her “Gee, Officer Krupke” has to be one of the funniest and most unique versions I’ve seen, with Friedman changing hats, wigs and accents at a fevered pace.  She also shows perfectly how you can make a mistake play to your advantage.  One of the funniest numbers of the night was “Getting Married Today,” not really for its humor, but for her performance acumen.  Friedman messed up the lyrics royally, and not just once, but showed us the human side, and we all were right there with her, praying she’d get the verse right.

My favorite songs were all haunting and incredibly moving: “I Remember”; “In Buddy’s Eyes”; “I Have a Love”; and “Children Will Listen.”  Her touching finale made me look forward to seeing her “Some Other Time.”

This is a definite highlight in the Hippodrome’s autumn season, which includes, among others, Adam Guettel, Ruthie Henshall, Barb Jungr, Judy Kuhn, Stefanie Powers, Suzi Quatro, The Hot Club of Cowtown and Lea DeLaria.

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
September 3, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org