BWW Reviews: Mary Testa's ON BROADWAY ...AND A LITTLE OFF! is an Exquisite Experience

Since we're living in Houston, I promise I won't be upset with you if you tell me you don't know who Mary Testa is. What you first need to understand is that the theatrical gods divinely intervened in her creation. Imagine if Bette Midler and Patti LuPone had a child and named her Mary. Got it? Good. Now, you're beginning to understand why Mary Testa is a theatrical tour de force. With two Tony Awards and other various New York theatre awards under her belt, she has proven herself to be a phenomenal talent that you should not miss.

Last night, Mary Testa premiered her ON BROADWAY ...AND A LITTLE OFF! cabaret at Houston's Music Box Theater. No stranger to the cabaret setting, this was her first time to ever perform a cabaret of songs from musicals she had been in. Houston's own Tyce Green conceived this cabaret performance. Mary Testa explains that she was so impressed with the song list that she immediately agreed to do it. The song list spans her impressive thirty year career, with a majority of the numbers being songs she sang on the Broadway and Off-Broadway stages.

As soon as she appears on stage, Mary Testa mesmerizes the audience with her brash but personable New Englander attitude. Last night's crowd, mostly Music Box Theater regulars who didn't know much (if anything) about Mary Testa, were instantly taken by her. They gave her a warm Houston welcome and gleefully played along with her as she interacted with them. At the top of the show, Mary Testa promises that each song will be discussed, that some stories will get a little gossipy, and she keeps true to her word. I refuse to spoil the fun, but the hilarious story surrounding "To Keep My Love Alive" from Herbert Fields, Richard Rogers, and Lorenz Hart's A CONNECTICUT YANKEE and the dish surrounding "Colored Lights" from Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Fred Ebb's THE RINK were my two favorite vignettes.

The 15 song set list vastly showcases her vocal range and skills. Mary Testa's stage presence effortlessly commands attention, leaving the audience hanging on every word she says and every note that she produces. She delights, dazzles, and mystifies, and she invites us to move through her career with her. My favorite performances include her soulfully jazzy performance of "Set Those Sails" from William Finn's IN TROUSERS, the hysterically witty number "Pain" from Lewis Black's THE CZAR OF ROCK AND ROLL, her gorgeous and evocative rendition of "On the Other Side" from Michael John LaChiusa's QUEEN OF THE MIST (which is a show he wrote for her), her powerhouse performance of "Change" from William Finn's A NEW BRAIN, her lovely and deeply emotional solo version of "Nice" from Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's LUCKY STIFF, and her rousing take on "Colored Lights." In all honesty, each of the 15 songs is terrifically performed and astounds the audience, whether they were familiar with the song before hearing it at the cabaret or not.

Music Direction by Jack Bettle is fantastic. Even though they just met this week, they have a great chemistry and superbly take cues from each other, ensuring that they are together regarding tempo and delivery of the music. Likewise, Jenna Burns and Kristin Warren offer splendid backup vocals for Mary Testa. Lastly, Sound Design by Andrew Harper is perfectly leveled and mixed to guarantee every member of the audience clearly hears the beautiful music flowing from the stage.

Mary Testa's ON BROADWAY ...AND A LITTLE OFF! cabaret is a rare and exquisitely New York treat that Houston audiences should be busting down the doors to see. Call The Music Box Theater now and reserve your tickets for tonight's show. This is a once in a blue moon opportunity for Houstonians to experience and even come to know a Broadway veteran without catching a show in New York City at a venue like 54 BELOW or Joe's Pub.

Mary Testa: ON BROADWAY ...AND A LITTLE OFF! runs one last time tonight at The Music Box Theater, 2623 Colquitt Street, Houston, 77098. The performance is at 8:00pm. For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.themusicboxtheater.com or call (713) 522-7722.

Photos courtesy of Tyce Green.

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