Have you ever been asked, "Whom would you like to invite to a dinner party?" Your first thought may not have been Peter Gallagher, except for eye candy value. Gallagher, however, can take a place toward the top of any list. A loquacious Irishman ("Black Irish," he points out, just like Jimmy Cagney), he is an engaging storyteller with a range of topics, including his younger days, his career, his acting buddies, his wife and his children. The songs come in between, often with a sinuous link to the story.

Currently, Gallagher's dinner party is at Feinstein's at the Regency, where he is making his cabaret debut with Songs and Stories.

From a cabaret show, we like to learn something about the performer, and Gallagher, in his casual, slightly self-deprecating gabfest, reveals his addiction to tuneful melodies ever since grade-school days during the British Invasion when he imitated Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody." He likes imitating, and is spot-on with remembrances of Peter O'Toole and Stubby Kaye.

We also learn about the performer through the song selections and renditions. Gallagher has a sure sense of time and a soulful feel, well articulated in "A Song for You" and "Don't Give Up On Me." He delivers a convincing bluesy "She's No Lady" and, he proves again that men can be as "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" as women. Gallagher plumbs the lyrics compellingly and his vocal tone is warm and mellow, especially with the descriptive introspection of "My Time of Day," from Guys and Dolls, the show that put Gallagher in Broadway lights. From the same show, he sang "I've Never been in Love Before" and finished with a lusty "Luck Be A Lady."

We would have been luckier with a few more songs, and incidentally, have to ask "Why" regarding a guest vocalist? Holly Palmer is a capable singer, but the duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" adds nothing to the flow of the program, which is built on Gallagher's own personality and life.

Peter Gallagher is backed by a versatile quartet that supports without over-reaching: On piano is Ted Baker, Don Falzone on bass, Ben Perowsky, on drums and Bob Thiele, Jr. on guitar. The show is a fine introduction to a talented performer's nightclub entree.

Peter Gallagher brings his Songs and Stories to Feinstein's at the Regency from May 15 to June 2.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
May 16, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org