Karen Akers has embarked on a courageous journey. Long known for her dark, international repertoire, featuring works, in their original languages, of such writers as Weill and Brecht, Hollaendar and Brel, Akers is now embracing the American Songbook. In her newest show, at The Algonquin's Oak Room, she continues her move from shadow into the light. The evening's composer of choice: Jule Styne, a master of American razzmatazz, whose Broadway scores include such merriments as High Button Shows, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Bells Are Ringing, Funny Girl, Peter Pan and Gypsy. Wisely, Akers has included many of Styne's more romantic, more poignant pieces, which she delivers with endearing simplicity and warmth - such songs as "Just in Time," "Make Someone Happy" and "Long Before I Knew You" (lyrics by Comden and Green); "It's Been a Long, Long Time" and "Time After Time" (Sammy Cahn), and "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (Frank Loesser). In these, she is charming, often moving. It's in Styne's more flip songs - such as "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" (words by Sondheim) and "If You Hadn't But You Did" (Comden and Green) - that the song and Akers' inherent elegance fail to mesh. For two of her songs - "Five Minutes More" and "I'll Walk Alone" (both lyrics by Cahn) - accompanying commentary from the piano by music director Don Rebic, intended to offer counterpoint to the sentimentality of the lyrics, felt unnecessarily cute. It was at the end of her show, when Akers sang "People" (lyrics by Bob Merrill) while seated on a stool in the spotlight that her special charm came to the fore. With Dick Sarpola on bass and Tim Flannery on lights and sound, the evening was directed by Eric Michael Gillett.

Karen Akers and Simply Styne continue at the Oak Room through May 12.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
April 17, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org