Ken Page brought a host of well-honed theatrical talents as well as a rich and resonant voice to his cabaret act, Page by Page. Although Page paid his cabaret dues in the seventies and eighties at such legendary spots as Reno Sweeney's, Sweetwaters and The Grand Finale, this Metropolitan Room engagement was Page's first New York cabaret appearance since 1982.

Page is featured in the current movie hit, Dreamgirls, but he has been a Broadway and musical theater regular for decades. Therefore, it was not a surprise that, musical theater-like, Page's arrival on the cabaret stage was preceded by an overture. His entrance from off stage was equally dramatic, as he paused between tables to open his show with a bravura and unamplified rendition of "Feeling Good."

Page by Page is a meticulously prepared autobiographical show comprised of one-man skits and dramatic monologues into which songs and fragments of songs are woven. It is a two-hour theater piece that plays effectively on a cabaret stage. From his childhood St. Louis housing project ("in between the hard times, we had fun"), his "arrival" as an actor when he won the Old Deuteronomy role in Cats, his Nicely-Nicely Johnson role in the all-black Guys and Dolls, his show-stopping "Your Feet's Too Big" in Ain't Misbehavin', to the devastating loss of friends and colleagues in the AIDS epidemic.

The music supporting the Page by Page narration is no aimless vamping; Music Director Jana Vielonka has created an atmospheric framework for Page's tale-telling and singing worthy of a Hollywood production. She and bassist Brian Russell and drummer Jim Young deserve a good deal of credit for the impact of the show. Page's performance is stellar as he sings, he swings, at times he dances, playing out a tasteful, absorbing and moving personal history.

Acknowledging all of the above, plus Page's breathtaking ability to be alternately playful, charismatic or commanding over a full two hours, let it be noted that the show suffered a few spots, such as the tale of a London sojourn, that played too long. Happily, they're scattered and they're tolerable, so don't think twice about catching this show if you have the chance.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
November 20, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org