BWW Reviews: Life Lessons from Car Radio Classics Provide CHRISTY FRYE With a Winning Debut Show at Don't Tell Mama

One of the joys of reviewing cabaret is being fortunate enough to discover a remarkable talent. I experienced that feeling this past Saturday night at Don't Tell Mama where Christy Frye debuted her New York cabaret show, Christy Frye: Feels Like the First Time--Things I Learned From the Car Radio. Considering Frye is native of the Washington, D.C. area, and has been commuting weekly to New York for more than two years to study and participate in the New York cabaret scene, one might get the impression that Frye spends a good deal of her time in the car listening to the "oldies but goodies," thereby supporting the first rule of cabaret performance--make the subject matter organic to the performer.

When Frye takes the stage (and the driver's seat) displaying her big, glorious voice impressively belting out a rockin', 1980's opening medley of "I've Got The Music In Me/Flashdance/Feels Like the First Time," you know you're in for a very good ride. Traveling on the road does tend to make one reflective as Frye quietly shifts gears into the 1973 Jackson Browne hit "Doctor My Eyes." During her first patter break, Frye tells her audience that the songs from the radio were in fact "The soundtrack of my youth." Insisting that these precious tunes stay with you throughout your life, Frye skillfully steers into R&B territory with the 1973 Aretha Franklin mega hit "Until You Come Back to Me."

Her first power ballad of the evening (and there are several) is the 1982 James Ingram hit "Just Once" (Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann) where the audience experiences the devastating pangs of first love through Frye's bold, gutsy, and heartfelt interpretation that was followed by vigorous applause. Humbled, Frye changes direction by telling an amusing childhood story of how in her basement one summer she instructed all the neighborhood kids in the fine art of kissing. A satirical fun arrangement follows (no doubt inspired by Spike Jones) of "Witch Doctor" (Ross Bagdasarian) complete with slide whistle, finger cymbals, and vibraslap. Next Frye demonstrates considerable acting chops on the chilling "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" (Bobby Russell). Her best number of the night was 11 o'clock number "Should've Never Let You Go" (Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody) which absolutely brought the house down as evidenced by the prolonged impassioned applause.

If Frye is the star of the show, certainly her co-star would be Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins. His instrumental and vocal arrangements are simply spectacular. He puts you on the road again with his excellent classic rock arrangements of "How Much I Feel" (David Pack), "Fly Like an Eagle" (Steve Miller), which segues into an entire "Eagles Medley" followed by "Dance With Me" (John and Johanna Hall), a winning smash-up of "Baby Come Back/She's Gone" (John C. Crowley and Peter Beckett/Daryl Hall and John Oates), into a befitting rousing closer of Mentor William's "Drift Away," coaxing the audience into a spontaneous hand clapping to the beat. Back-up singers (Rachel Hanser, Lennie Watts, and Watkins) sing with the tightest harmonies I've heard on a cabaret stage in a long time. Along with Watkins on piano, the band included Donna Kelly on drums, and Dan Fabricatore on bass, who worked well to create a truly amazing sound coming out of that little Don't Tell Mama brick room.

Major kudos go to Colette Black for so successfully handling this immense sound machine and lights. But Director Lennie Watts is the key player here, providing skillful leadership for the immense talent of Christy Frye and winning debut.

Christie Frye: Feels like the First Time--Things I Learned From the Car Radio will return on Saturday, June 6 at 5:00 pm at Don't Tell Mama. For reservations go to www.donttellmamanyc.com.

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