Anthony Santelmo, Jr. has always brought special qualities to cabaret: an open, winning personality, an interesting selection of not-your-usual songs, and a truly fine voice honed in theater and opera. He did it again this past December, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, this time teaming up with a new singing partner and (because of the illness of his long-time accompanist, Nan Butcher) with a new musical director as well.

Anthony’s stage colleague was Valerie diLorenzo, who joined Anthony in several merry duets and who also took the stage in solos of her own. Together, they presented a generous, comfortable and neatly paced hour and a half, backed by the arrangements and piano know-how of Barry Levitt.

The programming of the material was savvy and satisfying: songs culled from such shows as Side Show, Edwin Drood, Annie Get Your Gun  (pairing Anthony and Valerie on “An Old Fashioned Wedding”) and Man of La Mancha (featuring Anthony’s stirring “I, Don Quixote"). Duets also included a neat pairing of “Let It Snow, Let It Snow” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” – not inappropriate for a December day. Their finale: an un-miked, warm-hearted duet of “Get Happy” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.” With Anthony and Valerie on stage together, who couldn’t feel the same way?

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
December 23, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org