With their signature wit, energy and style, Christine Ebersole and Billy Stritch returned in triumph to New York's cabaret scene in December. After last year's Nightlife Award-winning gig at the Metropolitan Room, the fantastic act moved uptown to Birdland to welcome the season in perfect harmony.

With a diverse songlist that ranges from jazz standards to recent Broadway hits, the concert shows both Ebersole and Stritch at the peak of their many talents. They crack jokes (the same jokes they cracked last year, but hey, the classics are timeless). They sing (often duets, and always in incredibly tight harmonies that would make the Andrews sisters green). They fill the room with an all-too-rare unabashed joy and enthusiasm for their art, turning Birdland into a warm sort of parlor where families and friends can gather for holiday cheer. Sound schmaltzy? It isn't. For all the warmth, Ebersole and Stritch share a sharp sense of humor that prevents the sweetness from becoming treacle. ("What do I want for Christmas?" Ebersole asked during a story about performing in Washington. "My civil liberties!")

They bring fresh energy to some classics ("I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," "Surrey with the Fringe On Top," and a wonderfully rich "My Ship" in which Ebersole becomes a whole brass section) and some somewhat rarer numbers (Sondheim's "So Many People in the World," "Baby, Dream Your Dream," and "Sunday in New York"). As befits the season, many of the songs are about Christmas (nothing about Hanukkah, alas, but as they pointed out, most of the Christmas songs in their set were written by Jews). In addition to the standards like "The Holiday Season," "The Christmas Song" (a beautiful solo by Stritch), and "All I Want for Christmas is Here," two songs from Ebersole's recent hit Grey Gardens are blended into one breathtaking moment that even had Ebersole herself wiping away tears before she could sing. "Another Winter in a Summer Town" may not be an obvious song for the holidays, but as an instrumental prelude to "Will You?," it serves as a fantastic buildup to an emotional catharsis. This combination should become a standard for any future cabarets Stritch and Ebersole do together.

The only downside of the show is its very limited run. One can only hope that when next year's concert comes around, they'll find a home for the entire month of December. A one week run is far too short for such a talented act, and the show is the perfect way to escape the stresses of the holidays.

Tesse Fox
Cabaret Scenes
December 5, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org