Review: Beth Malone's SO FAR at Joe's Pub is Adorable and Heartwarming

Tony Award nominated Beth Malone, currently starring in the Tony Award winning musical Fun Home on Broadway, returned to Joe's Pub this past Monday and took it by storm with her adorable and heartwarming solo cabaret show Beth Malone: So Far. Through songs and often hilarious vignettes about her life, she took audiences on an inspiring journey of discovering her sexuality and proudly owning her true self.

Joel Perez, a Fun Home cast mate, took the stage with the swagger and charm of Lin-Manuel Miranda and opened the show with a charming and funny rap about Malone, introducing her to the uninitiated in the audience. From there Malone entered singing "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." (Donna Fargo), which allowed her to introduce us to her Colorado upbringing, her mother's career as a country singer, and how much she loved being a doppelganger of her cowboy father as a young girl. At the show I attended, she then invited graphic novelist Alison Bechdel on stage to play her for a bit before she discussed an indelible crush on Barbara Mandrell which lead into a mash up of "Country Girl" and "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" (Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, Raymond Jackson).

Continuing the show, she takes the audience through the tribulations and awkwardness of an in-person crush on a girl named Louis, a dancer whom she toured with, riffing off of "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson) to create her own song. After telling the audience about the confusion her sexuality caused her as an adolescent and young adult, she tells us about meeting a gorgeous blonde. She sings "Waiting for a Girl Like You" (Mick Jones, Lou Gramm) and does an impressive mashup of "Changing My Major" (Jeanine Tesori, Lisa Kron) and "Your Body Is a Wonderland" (John Mayer).

Having found love, Malone tells of yearning for acceptance from her parents regarding her sexuality. In these tender moments Malone launches into stirring performances of "I Don't Believe You" (Pink, Max Martin), clips from "Whispering" (Duncan Sheik, Steven Slater), and "Tiger" (Paula Cole). Alas, all young love comes to an end, but Malone has discovered her authentic self. She changes the tone back to cheerful with a sapphicly sophisticated and decidedly fun medley featuring "Bring Me Some Water" (Melissa Etheridge), "Constant Craving" (K.D. Lang, Ben Mink), and "Fast Car" (Tracy Chapman). Likewise, she makes the audience howl with laughter by changing the lyrics to "I Hope I Get It" (Marvin Hamlisch).

Taking a break from her journey, and accompanied by Lisa Kron, Malone and Kron field questions from the audience for a gameshow-like sketch called "Ask a Lesbian!" After this, she begins to wrap up the show by talking about finding true love and even being nominated for a Tony, singing "Lucky Lucky Me" (Patricia Cotter, Lori Scarlett). With sincerity and strength she talks about not needing to wait for the approval of her parents and moves the audience to tears with "What I Cannot Change" (Darrell Brown, LeAnn Rimes). Then, to send the audience out on a high note she incorporates "I Think I Love You" (Tony Romeo) into the set before singing a slowed rendition of "Pride and Joy" (Brandi Carlile) as a heartwarming and beautiful ode to the relationship she shared with her father and the changes it has undergone.

Filling the intimate venue with peppy energy and accompanying Malone was music director Susan Draus on piano, Lynn Keller on bass, and Danny Taylor on percussion. The small band followed Malone's lead, matching their emotional and evocative performances to her own. Likewise, catching glimpses of their faces light up with laughter or be moved by Malone's recounting of her heartaches and her joys was refreshing, as each member of the band appeared to be experiencing the show with the audience.

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