Laura Michelle Kelly
Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, May 30, 2016
Reviewed by Marilyn Lester for Cabaret Scenes
If a Disney princess could come to life and appear in a cabaret show, she would be embodied in Laura Michelle Kelly. As evidenced by an audience of mainly young girls and twenty-somethings – delighted to sit among a festive flock of purple balloons – Kelly’s show was a sugar-coated confection from the opening, a medley of “One Sweet Love” and “I Choose You” (Sara Bareilles) through “Melody of You” (Matt Slocum) to “Goodbye Until Tomorrow” (Jason Robert Brown). Make no mistake, though, Kelly is a supremely appealing presence with a beautiful, big voice.
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With “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” (George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam), she demonstrated an impressive range and polished technique.
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These are assets that have worked admirably to ensure her successful theater career (Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland). Problematically though, even with such a stunning set of pipes, every song sounds like an anthem. Greater depth of soul – as well as modulation and subtlety – is missing. Even the encore number, Stephen Schwartz’s “Meadowlark,” which she declared is her “favorite song in the whole wide world,” lacked the deeper layer of feeling and nuance that should have had the audience weeping.
Director Corey Mach craftily constructed a show designed to manipulate each moment from beginning to end. In the middle of the proceedings, just after the sensitive songs “Butterflies” and “There Was a Time,” both penned by Kelly, it was time for fun! Little gift bags had been deposited on tables. From these a bubble blower was to be extracted and used for “The Puppy Song” (Harry Nilsson) while images of Kelly and her “best friend” flashed on screens. Around this time, too, out came a fish bowl, Kelly’s “jar of optimism,” filled with cheery aphorisms. One such was in each gift bag ,too – a personal keepsake from the perky diva. This sum total of Disney perfection made for a very professional and flawless presentation, but it’s a product not for everyone.
Finally, about three-quarters through, the much-awaited “surprise guest” appeared: the Ken to Kelly’s Barbie, Jeremy Jordan. Jordan, another technically perfect belter, performed the bouncy, funky “New Shoes” (Paolo Nutini/Matty Benbrook/Jim Duguid) and a duet with Kelly, “Come What May” (David Baerwald).
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Both were out of their depth on this slow ballad until, eventually, entering belt mode. Musical direction and piano was by Joshua Stephen Kartes, an extremely energetic and animated accompanist. Talented side men were Hiro Honma on guitar, Colin Dean on bass guitar and Dominic Lynch on drums. A special shout-out goes to cellist Jacob Yates. His playing not only added much needed depth to the show, but was a special treat to hear on his solo during “On My Way to You” (Alan & Marilyn Bergman/Michel Legrand).
