Review: Maureen Taylor Celebrates Unheralded Composer Bob Merrill in New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits at Metropolitan Room

In her A-line black and white polka dot dress with petticoats, a lively (and lithe!) Maureen Taylor delivered an entertaining tribute to lyricist Bob Merrill at the Metropolitan Room (on July 13). Originally directed by Peter Napolitano when the show debuted in 2008-09, Taylor Made is the latest installment of Producer/Promoter Stephen Hanks' outstanding New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits, which almost always lives up to its name.

An exuberant "Travelin'" from Breakfast at Tiffany's set the tone well. A former opera singer, Taylor combines strong vocal technique (not to mention head voice) with powerful personality, transitioning easily from high notes to low in "When You Meet A Man In Chicago" from Sugar (music by Jule Styne). A sexy, funny "Mambo Italiano" (a Merrill hit for Rosemary Clooney) rounded out the opening trio of songs. Musical director Matt Castle sparkles on piano, while the versatile Joe Brent shifts ably between mandolin, guitar, and violin.

While nominated for a Tony eight times, much of Merrill's work remains known even to fans of musical theater. Taylor Made covers a lot of ground, perhaps in an attempt to introduce the audience to Merrill's ouevre. This means that Taylor relies heavily on mashups ("I Wish I Somebody Cared Enough To Cry/The Girl With Too Much Heart," "I Did It On Rollerskates/The Beauty That Drives Men Mad," Music That Makes Me Dance/Toys"), so the show includes more songs than a typical cabaret performance.

The long set list is an unusual but not objectionable choice, given the show's stated intent. Still, some might find this peripatetic sequencing a bit disjointed, particularly because her patter is minimal and set to music. That's smart when the performer has a less than stellar spoken voice, but Taylor should be making a fortune in radio commercials or voiceovers with that velvety, polished voice reminiscent of Christine Baranski.

And while Taylor announces early on that this is not a history lesson, a bit more context would have given the show a unity lacking at times. Still, the performer sang a dazzling "Ooh, Bang, Jiggly Jang" that would make Dinah Shore proud. She struck a more serious, reflective note in "What Do I do Now/My Place in the World," from Prince of Grand Street, and the beautiful ballad "Kissed On The Eyes," released in 1990 just eight years before the ailing lyricist took his own life, fearing he would soon be confined to a wheelchair. With "Here I Am" from Henry, Sweet Henry,"Kissed On The Eyes" is Merrill at his best, writing about love that transcends class or station.

"Same Mistakes" from Breakfast at Tiffany's was another highlight of the evening, which happily ended not with "People" (does anyone need to hear that song again?), but "When It Happens To You," from the 1993 musical flop The Red Shoes. Sometimes a failed musical-a whole book is devoted to the backstory of this debacle-yields a musical gem. By turns wistful and hopeful, the song is a fitting conclusion to Taylor's love song to Bob Merrill.

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