Driving swing tunes as "Ridin' High" and a "sing" medley of "Sing for Your Supper," "Sing, Sing, Sing," and "Sing You Sinners," were an unusual start to a Betty Buckley evening. Buckley, however, is a revered and gifted singer, capable of delving into various musical genres with an actor's intuition. Singin' for My Supper at Feinstein's at the Regency proved the point. with a pantheon of feelings, rhythms, and styles.

After her spirited opening, she delivered some of the most melting ballads in the American songbook, like "All the Things You Are" and "I'll Be Seeing You."

Feeling that with her cowgirl roots, she would be a natural to play Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, she performed "They Say It's Wonderful" and the gorgeous "I Got Lost in His Arms." It was with Sondheim's inspiring anthem, "Move On" (Sunday in the Park With George), that Buckley demonstrated her unique place in interpreting complex theatre music. She added two songs by Ricky Ian Gordon, and then reached the elements of "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor, unveiling an emotional depth in the pop song that has been underplayed.

Buckley ended with a full-throated "It Might as Well Be Spring" and then "With a Song in my Heart," rounding out one of her most variegated shows.

Betty Buckley is Singin' for My Supper at Feinstein's at the Regency through April 7.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
March 28, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org