Julie Stirman is a cabaret novice with appeal and talent who promises to develop into a sure-fire winner.  Her show, understandably titled Julie Stirman at the Metropolitan Room, shared a common theme with many a debut performer: the young single woman in the big city.  To her credit, she populated her list with less familiar tunes, opening with a clever “One Woman’s Story,” by Cheri Coons and Beckie Menzie, a paean to being raised in the woods, by elves.

Stirman possesses an attractive voice, which she had the opportunity to show off impressively with another Cheri Coons number, this one with music by Michael Duff, “Metropolitan Scat.”  After modestly acknowledging that she’s neither a jazz vocalist nor an operatic diva, with Steven Ray Watkins at the piano and accompanied by Matt Wigton on bass and drummer Jerry Smith, Stirman used the Coons/Duff composition to shine rousingly in both genres.

With additional experience in the boîtes, Stirman should become more at ease singing to her audience rather than “the room.”  And understand that lessening her volume on William Finn’s “Infinite Joy” would add to its effectiveness.  She doesn’t have far to go.  Lennie Watts directed; Michael Barbieri capably handled lights and sound.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
April 21, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org