Fade in.

Long shot: solo performer on empty stage.

A medley of abbreviated tastings of half-tempo, doubly-dramatic “In the Good Old Summertime,” “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” “Daisy Bell” (“A Bicycle Built for Two”), “The Man on the Flying Trapeze,” “The Bowery,” “The Sidewalks of New York” (“East Side, West Side”). It took longer to read the titles then it did her to sing the scant chosen bars of the aforementioned. However, compared to Ms. Sullivan’s 29 from ‘29 towards the disc’s end—I’ll let you discover that lineup for yourself—the snippets and snatches are comparable to epic writings, such embarrassingly short shrift is given each truncated latter choice.

When she actually gives us a full song we all fare much better, as with the Noël Coward gem “If Love Were All” or Franz Lehár’s “Vilia” (with English lyrics by Adrian Ross) in each of which she tells the story well. Even the Betty Boopish “I Want to Be Bad” is given its own charming musical integrity. In fact, most of the airs are sensitively sounded, none better than “Come Down Ma Evenin’ Star” despite that troublesome, albeit strangely endearing off-pitch high note thing which she seems to have adopted as a kind of signature button.

Jon Weber on piano valiantly tries to keep up with all the changes—key, tempo, life—and mostly does. Maybe there’s a muddled spot or two but certainly not during his instrumental solo, “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” or his short—though snappy—vocal “I’m in the Market for You.”

And another long shot: KT waltzing in the almost dark and singing yet another medley...as we watch and listen from the wings.

Fade out.

Noah Tree
Cabaret Scenes
May 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org