Colm Reilly was born in New York but spent his childhood summers in Ireland with his extended family. Back to Ireland was conceived out of affection for the Auld Sod and the Irish songs with which he grew up. Many of them, he noted, he'd been singing for twenty-five years.

The program offered quite a variety, from a rollicking "Whiskey in the Jar" to "Boys of the Old Brigade" and a small handful of "rebel" songs, to (don't be surprised) the ever-affecting "Danny Boy." The performer-turned-club-owner (Helen's is his club) is but an infrequent addition to his room's schedule, which is a pity, because he's affable, possesses a boyish charm, and brings to cabaret one of the most appealing Irish tenors in town.

Reilly was nicely supported by musical director D. Jay Bradley, bassist Marco Brem, Ann Klein on guitar and drummer David Silliman. Shane Mathews managed lights and sound. , Las Vegas Rhapsody was as much an experience as it was a show.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
April 7, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org