'S Wonderful

George Gershwin (and Duke Ellington) have been saluted to death. Why don’t we hear/see more tributes to Sammy Fain, Ralph Rainger, Jimmy Van Heusen and other underrated favorites? But, nothing sells like fame…and marvelous music. Still, I thought, what can they do that’s new?

I got my answer, thanks to the writing of Ray Roderick, the choreography and direction of Vince Peske, the costumes by Barbara Anderson, forty-two songs (eleven of which I’d not heard more than once), and sparkling performances by five performers and their awesome pianist, Nathan Perry.

The two gents, Jake Delaney and Matthew Rickard, being outnumbered, had to play even more roles in this revue than the three ladies, energetically shifting moods and appearances every few minutes. The three ladies also displayed much versatility, talent, and enthusiasm.

Lovely, shapely Katie Mitchell repeatedly produced the just-right facial expressions amid terrific terpsichore. Cassandra Nuss has a gleaming face and adds that extra inch on every move that defines charisma. Petite Kimberly Thomas sang the only two pure solos quite nicely; however, her facial resemblance to Ben Vereen is so pronounced that it was distracting. Longer hair would lessen that.

When Jake and Cassandra dueted on “Love Is Here To Stay” (the Gershwins’ last song), their looks of love were so convincing that they brought tears to the eyes of this old romantic fool. Kudos to Jake for his uninterrupted phrasing of “together, we’re going a long, long way,” which most singers break for a breath after “we’re.”

Cute plots tied songs, and parts thereof, together in long, clever medleys, often splendidly harmonized. Certainly Ira’s imaginative lyrics inspired endless ideas. The subway scene, in which we saw the backs of several newspapers wobbling, made me homesick for Manhattan. The backdrops of Paris and New Orleans took me on two lovely trips.

Casting is more easily said than done. Of the three female voices, one should’ve been a husky, torchy, smoky-dive voice reminiscent of Lee Wiley or Carol Sloane.

Eric Stevens
Cabaret Scenes
October 9, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org