Stacy Sullivan: Since You’ve Asked

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Stacy Sullivan

Since You’ve Asked

Metropolitan Room, NYC, April 4, 2015

Reviewed by Rob Lester for Cabaret Scenes

Stacy-Sullivan-Since-You've-Asked-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212After fascinating Peggy Lee and Marian McPartland bio-surveys, Stacy Sullivan has generated a show surveying generations of her family.  She tells tales of her grandparents’ and parents’ attitudes and priorities; it is, leaping ahead in the dynasty of DNA, directed by daughter Savannah Brown. Perhaps still clinging to singing and sensibilities à la Lee, Stacy’s voice is smoky, manner mysterious and minimalist, masterfully mesmerizing. Projecting someone lost in thought/memories, haunted, in a haze, digging inward, she—frustratingly—reaches out less to us.  Some pieces tend to end with repeated lines intoned as stunned self-hypnosis.  I urge more variety.

Coming off multiple major cabaret awards, in an act named for Judy Collins’s song, sensitivity reigns; two thoughtful David Hajdu lyrics captivate. Unexpectedly, a slowed-down “This Land Is Your Land”—unleashed from sing-along, head-bobbing status—is moving.  With “Too Darn Hot” comes welcome playfulness and chemistry with excellent bandmembers Matthew Wattanabe (piano), Jamie Mohamdein (bass) and Troy Fanin (guitar/arranger/musical director).  Weather is a unifying theme, with a prime Stacy Sullivan CD track, “Cold Enough to Snow” (Alan Menken/Stephen Schwartz), revived—strong in autobiographical context.

  I saw Since You’ve Asked at its opening; I think it will open up more …and blossom.

Stacy returns to the Metropolitan Room May 21 at 7 pm, July 11 at 4 pm, August 29 at 7 pm and November 14 at 7 pm.

Rob Lester

2015 is native New Yorker Rob Lester's eighth year as contributing writer, beginning by reviewing a salute to Frank Sinatra, whose recordings have played on his personal soundtrack since the womb. (His Cabaret Scenes Foundation member mom started him with her favorite; like his dad, he became an uber-avid record collector/ fan of the Great American Songbook's great singers and writers.) Soon, he was attending shows, seeking out up-and-comers and already-came-ups, still reading and listening voraciously. He also writes for www.NiteLifeExchange.com and www.TalkinBroadway.com, has been cabaret-centric as awards judge, panel member/co-host, and produces benefit/tribute shows, including one for us.