BWW Reviews: Kritzerland Salutes JERRY HERMAN

On Sunday November 2, Kritzerland presented its 51st show Put on Your Sunday Clothes, The Songs of Jerry Herman at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal with special guest star Karen Morrow. No surprise that this was an uplifting, thoroughly enjoyable evening of song, for as host Bruce Kimmel stated up front, "No one brings optimism to Broadway like Jerry Herman." Fabulous Tom Griep served as musical director at the piano with super songsters David Engel, Valerie Perri, Damon Kirsche, Shannon Warne, Chelsea Emma Franko and 14 year-old Sami Staitman as well as the aforementioned queen of singers Karen Morrow. Singing doesn't get any better than this!

Highlights of the evening, which per usual included well-known hits as well as lesser-known tunes - some real gems: Engel's rousing "Movies Were Movies" from Mack & Mabel and his dynamite closing anthem "I Am What I Am" from La Cage, Kirsche's exuberant "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from Hello Dolly!, coupled with its lovely "It Only Takes a Moment", Perri's super delivery on "Time Heals Everything" from Mack & Mabel, Warne's glorious rendition of "If He Walked Into My Life" from Mame, Franko's uber jolting "Open a New Window" from Mame combined with her heartfelt rendering of "Before the Parade Passes By" from Dolly!, and Staitman's adorable "Look What Happened to Mabel" from Mack & Mabel.

Karen Morrow, who toured with Herman for many years bringing master classes in Broadway music out to colleges and high schools across the country, ordinarily performs "We Need a Little Christmas" from Mame or "Time Heals Everything", but this time around she told a delightful story about a singer getting older and not being able to hit those high notes that Herman writes. Jerry Herman, she said, lowered "It's Today" and "Time Heals Everything" for her by a third - that's pretty low - and she clarified by singing parts of each down into the low alto to near baritone range. Very amusing segment! Morrow then sang a song that Herman had written especially for Ethel Merman's gig in Dolly! "Love, Look In My Window". Morrow was Herman's first choice to revive it since its original performances by Merman. Miss Karen Morrow, a master singer and storyteller - one of the very, very best!

Also on tap were the unfamiliar tunes, and one familiar one that had an unusual beginning.. As Kimmel pointed out, "It's Today" which opens Mame has music that Herman wrote originally for his show Parade. He had entitled it "Show Tune" - different lyrics but the same song. Both were deliciously performed here by Valerie Perri. Perri also essayed the lovely lesser known tune "I Belong Here" from The Grand Tour and Damon Kirsche performed the unfamiliar but beautiful "To Be Alone With You" from Ben Franklin in Paris.

A standout duet of the evening was "Bosom Buddies" from Mame usually performed by the two actresses playing Mame Dennis and Vera Charles, but here given a fresh take by two men David Engel and Damon Kirsche - not in drag, just as two male buddies who like to claw into and dish the hell out of one another. Fun stuff!

What a wonderfully exciting evening of Jerry Herman music! Don't miss Kritzerland December 7 as they present their annual Holiday Show! Call for reservations as most shows sell out way in advance and this one is sure to be very popular: 818-754-8700

(photo credit, except for Jerry Herman portrait: Edward Donovan)

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