BWW Reviews: KRITZERLAND 4th Anniversary Show Is a Winner

On Sunday September 7, at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, due to an advance sell-out crowd for the 7 pm show, an additional matinee show was performed for the Fourth Anniversary of Kritzerland. Needless to say, both matinee and evening performances were sold out, making the monthly Kritzerland tributes the most popular shows at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. The anniversary party was entitledThe Songs That Got Away III and along with special guests Kerry O'Malley and Bruce Vilanch, the big cast also included Robert Yacko, Evan Harris, Madison Claire Parks, Sami Staitman, Jenna Lea Rosen, and also little Hadley Miller, and in chorus numbers of What If?: Kimberly Hessler, Travis Leland, Bruce Merkle, and Adrienne Visnic, all under the baton of super musical director John Boswell. This marked the 49th Kritzerland show since its inception at the Gardenia in 2010, and its host Bruce Kimmel, founder of Kritzerland Records, was in rare form, doling out trivia-worthy anecdotes about every number presented, as well as singing a song himself, due to the absence of Guy Haines.

The Songs That Got Away III gave us songs that should have been humongous hits, but for one reason or another, just never made it that big, such as "Somebody, Somewhere" from The Most Happy Fella - such a dandy show - and Sondheim's "Finishing the Hat" from Sunday in the Park with George. Funny Man Bruce Vilanch was a big ball of joy with "Be a Phony" from 1964's I Had a Ball. As usual he told jokes, did a little jig or two, and did an overall delightful job. Dynamic vocal artist Kerry O'Malley soared with "Knowing When to Leave" from Promises, Promises and "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" from White Christmas. Baritone Robert Yacko brought down the house with "Joey, Joey, Joey" from The Most Happy Fella. Before this number, Kimmel told a very touching story about meeting the original star of the show Robert Weede, when he performed Tony in Los Angeles. A young Kimmel waited at the stage door to talk to him, and not only did he meet him, but Weede invited Kimmel back to the evening performance, which happened to be their closing, and introduced him to the entire cast. Now when was the last time a Broadway star did the likes of that for a then young unknown? He changed Kimmel's life! Quite a remarkable human being as well as leading man, Robert Weede!

Kimmel wrote the musical revue What If? in 2004, and since it is the 10th anniversary of that show, several fun numbers were incorporated into this Kritzerland anniversary show. The premise of What If? is literally what if the composer of a hit Broadway show had written the songs for another hit show... what would it have turned into? For example - and to me, the best - if A Chorus Line had been written by Harnick and Bock, it would have been an ode to the dancer on the stage, but giving us "Audition" to the strains of "Tradition" from Fiddler. There was also West Side Story told to the music of Annie Get Your Gun and a very campy Phantom of the Opera to the music of Beauty and the Beast. Performers Kimberly Hessler, Travis Leland, Bruce Merkle and Adrienne Visnic simply shined in all of these parodies with Merkle a hoot as the phantom. Also a highlight was young Hadley Miller who dueted with Kimmel on a cute rendition of "You're Just in Love" from Call Me Madam.

Other highlights of the 90-minute set included Evan Harris and Madison Claire Parks recreating their recent critically acclaimed Abner and Daisy Mae from L'il Abner - Kimmel directed them in the production in May at LA City College. Parks also brought down the house with "My Heart Is So Full of You" from The Most Happy Fella. Sami Staitman and real-life pal Jenna Lea Rosen did a bangup job of rendering "Pals" from Kimmel's original 1985 musical of the same name, and Rosen stirred the audience into a frenzy with the finale "You There in the Back Row" from 13 Days to Broadway. Over the last couple of years Rosen has really blossomed into a great musical performer onstage. Watch for her! I am so proud of her!

Musical director John Boswell also had his turn in the spotlight with the amazing Boswell Overture, in which he incorporated from audience suggestions: "Some People", "Good Morning, Baltimore", "Tonight", "Big D", "On a Clear Day" and "Feed the Birds", among others. Unique, fun and very enjoyable, as was the entire evening which ended with the whole audience joining in to sing the rousing "Heart" from Damn Yankees.

Kritzerland returns October 5 with a Golden Anniversary show Kritzerland at 50, followed in November by the music of Jerry Herman. Make early reservations, for all shows, as previously mentioned, sell out way in advance!

Call: 818- 754-8700!

(photo credit: Aimee Curameng)

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