The one-night cabaret debut of Andrea McArdle, at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, inspires a one-word review. It’s “WOW!” – in bold-face, upper case, and followed by as many exclamation points as space will permit. The former child star of Annie, then with bouncy red hair and a big belt voice, has grown into a warm, attractive, vivacious woman, now with children of her own. Her voice retains the sparkle and power of her youth, yet is burnished with a more mature spirit that underscores the spirit of her songs. In a refreshingly simple, neatly paced show, with minimum talk, Andrea included several songs from her post-Annie career, including selections from Les Miz, Beauty and the Beast and Cabaret. Backed by Ben Toth on piano, Sean McDaniel on percussion and Michael Kuennen on bass, Andrea concluded with, of course, “Tomorrow,” followed by “Over the Rainbow” – to which destination this reviewer would happily follow her.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
February 10, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org