BWW Reviews: Actress/Singer Polly Seale Seizes the Stage at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal

On Sunday June 30 I went to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal to see Polly Seale do her one woman show, Cougar Mama!, The Sensual Evolution Revolution. Before I get to Ms. Seale, I would like to say that I 'discovered' a new appetizer (or side) to their tasty hamburgers, and that treat is the grilled brussel sprouts, with bacon, feta, and lots of other spices... a delightful taste treat that I never had before. And now for another taste treat!

Polly Seale brings enormous talent to her show, so much that one wonders why she has not been discovered and made a household name. Written and conceived by herself, this show is more like a theatrical journey, using Broadway as her main resource... and I love Broadway musicals! She appears in a low-cut sexy teal-blue dress, with a full apricot boa that she handles beautifully throughout the show. The stage is set with a divan on one side, lamps and other furniture that she uses creating a 'play' atmosphere rather than one for a nightclub act, with a grand piano upstage.

The main part of the show is divided into sections... the first being Cougar Mama, in which she performs numbers from Pal Joey "Terrific Rainbow", from Annie "Little 'BOYS'", from Damn Yankees "Whatever 'Mama' Wants", and finally from Chicago "When You're Good to Mama". All meld into a medley which works wonderfully. With very humorous stories in between the sections, she goes on to "I Can Cook, Too" from On The Town. Her monologue is basically about her life and how it all deals with her 'cougar' within. She admits to have been born in 1956 (impossible to imagine as she looks and sounds so youthful). Her 'Sex in the 70s' section includes "Don't You Feel My Leg" by Blue Lu Barker & Danny Morton, a very funny parody of a blues type number, which she follows with Sondheim's "The Miller's Son" from A Little Night Music, breaking up the song brilliantly with more tales. At this performance she then brought cellist Allyson Shelly onstage who began Seale's own original song "Looking", a lovely ballad. All of this was accompanied skillfully and with the utmost care by Robbie Gillman on piano.

Following this is her Marriage Medley: "Sadie, Sadie" from Funny Girl, "Big Brass Bed" from The Unsinkable Molly Brown and "You Gotta Love That Man", a latin number which shows off her great rhythm and dance ability. She then sang another of her own reflective songs, "An Artist Creating From The Heart". I could go on and on with the numbers she did because one seemed better than the other in the 90-minute set.

Seale's acting ability ranges from all-out comedy that she no doubt loves, to the full and deeply felt emotions of a dying diva. She made us laugh at her rendition of "Kids!" from Bye Bye Birdie, as well as cry when she got to numbers like "Children Will Listen" from Into The Woods and "If He Walked into My Life" from Mame. This was followed by a hilarious "Making Love Alone". Her show, or 'journey' as I like to think of it, flows from number to number so fluidly that we are all swept up into her life. One of the highlights for me was her "Defying Gravity" from Wicked which she began humorously using her face and breasts, then continued to rip our hearts out with the depth of her vocal abilities, which the song's finale requires. She sings like a comedienne... like a diva... like a Broadway belter... and ultimately like a star, which in my mind she already is. Hurray for this Cougar Mama... 'you done good, buddy boy'!!!

- by guest reviewer Stan Mazin