BWW Reviews: Revue Celebrating the Austin Cabaret Theatre at 54 Below is a Crazy Quilt of Performers in Mixed Bag of a Show

Stuart Moulton's Austin (Texas) Cabaret Theatre (may it thrive and prosper) turned 15 in tandem with his own 50th birthday. In celebration on Wednesday night, the Theatre's Artistic Director (also a performer himself) invited alumni and hopefuls to strut their stuff on the stage of 54 Below. The result was a wildly mixed bag of a show--featuring a few great vocalists and infectiously enthusiastic wannabes--which ran so exhaustively long that Moultan was able to change his clothes twice.

The biggest surprise was our host himself who has a splendid voice deployed with skill. With Ron Abel on piano, Moultan's offerings of "Elizabeth" (Howard Crabtree)--as in Elizabeth Taylor, Hilton, Wilding, Todd, Burton, Burton, Warner, Fortensky--and "The Ship Sails On" (Kirby Tepper), an amusing, Flanders-and-Swan-type ditty about a group of lesbian seagulls on Noah's Ark, were delivered in perfect, impish deadpan. Moulton understood the necessity not to camp. Phrasing was deft.

The show's other highlights included:

In honor of Moulton's birthday, Carolyn Montgomery-Forant (far left in photo) opened the show with "You Must've Been a Beautiful Baby" (Harry Warren/Johnny Mercer) in sassy alto with just a touch of growl. Her own custom birthday composition for the host with pianist/songwriter Jeff Cubeta closed it. While the lady has an appealing red hot mama-ish voice, it would've been swell to hear a number unrelated to the party giver (center in photo). Terry Klausner's (far right in photo) "Rainbow High" (Andrew Lloyd Webber from Evita) was as unabashedly clarion as her "Hit Me With a Hot Note" (Duke Ellington) was like a muted horn with at-ti-tude. The lady can sure sing. A little sassy movement would've enhanced.

Kevin Spirtas (far left in photo), who understudied for Hugh Jackman in the musical bio of Peter Allen,The Boy From Oz, offered two Allen songs, "Love Don't Need a Reason" and "Once Before I Go" (Ron Abel, piano). The first began whispery, puzzled . . . 'Cause love don't need a reason/Love (he shrugged) don't always rhyme . . . became fraught, then floated off like a leaf in the breeze. The second was leading man rich and full blooded. Spirtas is clearly an actor as well as vocalist.

Alex Rybeck assumed the piano bench for his own composition "Sybil" . . . Why did you have to split . . . adroitly performed by Jeff Harnar (far right in photo). The vocalist's lovely, croony voice, apparent sincerity, and comic timing ably served every funny line. The Meercats: Kristine Bogan, Grace Wall, Meg Doherty, and Abby Burke (with Kristine on acoustic guitar), sang Dolly Parton's "Jolene" with fine harmony and nifty, southern inflection. Refreshing.

Todd Murray (left in photo below) performed a sssizzzling "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" (Osvaldo Farrés/Joe Davis) and a palpably lush version of "If Ever I Would Leave You" (Alan Jay Lerner/ Frederick Loewe) from Camelot, also with Latin overtones. Both were from his terrific show Croon. (Alex Rybeck on piano and Sean Harkness on guitar delivered splendid arrangements.) One of Murray's most appealing traits is taking time with a lyric.

Natalie Douglas (right in photo), who has recently been performing a Dolly Parton tribute show at Birdland, rendered Parton's "I Just Might" from the musical Nine to Five with throaty vocal control and lots of heart. Because only a single phrase rose in volume, the song had real emotional muscle. The artist followed with an expansively happy "The Best Is Yet To Come" (Cy Coleman/ Carolyn Leigh), whose swing was illustrated by a little bounce, a little wiggle.

All that was needed for this show was a little editing and a BIG birthday cake.

Also appearing were singers Molly Pope, Marie Lemon, Danny Bolero, Charlie Johnson, Kissy Simmons, Matthew Chappell, and Nicholas Gallardo

Austen Cabaret Theatre: http://www.austincabaret.org/

Photos courtesy of Michael Fails

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