Put On Your Sunday Clothes - The Songs of Jerry Herman

A capacity crowd donned their Sunday best for Kritzerland Record's cabaret revue, "Put On Your Sunday Clothes-The Songs of Jerry Herman," presented November 2 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, Michael Sterling's classy supper club in North Hollywood. The evening of vintage show tunes, co-produced by Bruce Kimmel and Adryan Russ, and performed by a gifted roster of singer-actors, was an irresistible treat.

Broadway veterans Karen Morrow ("The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "The Grass Harp"), Valerie Perri ("Evita," "Jerome Robbins' Broadway") and David Engel ("La Cage Aux Folles," "Seussical") headed a sublime cast of seven. Tom Griep provided superb musical direction and piano accompaniment.

The ever-radiant Morrow, who has previously appeared in Herman musicals and revues, offered a knockout rendition of "Love Look in My Window." This smashing but little-known ballad was written for "Hello, Dolly!" but was only performed when Ethel Merman appeared in the show on Broadway, following Carol Channing's reign.

Engel, a magnificent LA-based performer, is regularly acclaimed for his star performances in shows like "The Producers." He earned kudos for his recent co-starring gig with the great Leslie Caron in "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks" at the Laguna Playhouse.

His first offering of the evening was a double-dose of great songs ("Movies Were Movies" and "I Won't Send Roses"), both originally sung by Robert Preston in "Mack and Mabel." In a masterstroke by producer Kimmel, Engel was later teamed with splendid baritone Damon Kirsche for a hilarious gender-bending take on the bitchy "Bosom Buddies" number from "Mame," which was originally shared by Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur on Broadway, and Lucille Ball and Arthur in the film version. The cagey Kimmel sneaked in one lyric change so Kirsche could mention one critic in attendance, who will remain unnamed here.

Engel's third triumphant turn was belting the shattering human-rights anthem "I Am What I Am" from "La Cage Aux Folles." He has sung this number to great acclaim in L.A. as the show's defiant female impersonator Zaza. Engel's first experience with "La Cage" was playing a member of the cross-dressing Les Cagelles ensemble in the original 1983 Broadway production. Herman's groundbreaking musical coincided with the outbreak of the AIDS crisis, adding a notable milestone among his catalog of primarily lighthearted traditional tuners.

Kirsche also sparkled in the little-known "To Be Alone With You" from "Ben Franklin in Paris," a musical in which Herman was summoned as a play doctor to add two numbers. Kirsche was also marvelous in a double dose of outstanding "Hello, Dolly!" songs: "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and "It Only Takes a Moment."

The vivacious Perri sparkled in "Show Tune/It's Today," demonstrating how Herman had recycled a melody from one of his early revues into a sprightly "Mame" number. She was also splendid in "I Belong Here" from "The Grand Tour" and had her finest turn of the evening in the soaring "Time Heals Everything" from "Mack and Mabel."

Another splendid chanteuse, Shannon Warne, belted the poignant "Mame" song "If He Walked Into My Life" and the gorgeous "I Don't Want to Know" (from "Dear World"), as well as the ebullient "The Best of Times" from "La Cage."
Versatile Chelsea Emma Franko delivered a great double whammy ("Open a New Window" from "Mame' and "Before the Parade Passes By" from "Hello, Dolly!")

She returned for a knockout rendition of "Wherever He Ain't" from "Mack and Mabel" and a soaring "I've Never Said I Love You" from "Dear World." Adorable Sami Staitman had her turn in the bouncy number "Look What Happened to Mabel," a song originated by Bernadette Peters in "Mack and Mabel."

The spectacular evening concluded with a rousing audience singalong rendition of (what else?) "Hello, Dolly!"

"Put On Your Sunday Clothes -- The Songs of Jerry Herman" was presented Nov. 2 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. For information or tickets for future shows, visit http://www.msapr.net/Sterling-s-at-The-Federal.html