With lovely voice and expressive face and body language, Lucille Carr-Kaffashan launches her entertaining new show, Finding Home, at Don’t Tell Mama.  Her performance, however, goes considerably beyond the theme of “home,” conveying more meanings than one might think possible.  Through nuanced interpretations, she links images of life and home with such emotions as longing, joy that comes with love and human bonding, loneliness, and the despair that comes with loss.  

Carr-Kaffashan’s delivery of “A House is Not a Home” is a high point of the performance. With intonations of voice, careful phrasing, facial expression and open arms, she brings her audience so close that the space between singer and audience almost disappeared.  For variety, and laughs, “I’m Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home,” is as funny as the patter introducing it.

An easily correctible problem with the show is that the accompanist/musical director, David Brunetti, at times plays so loudly that he overshadows his vocalist’s singing, particularly in the first half of the program.   

If, however, you are looking for good entertainment delivered by a talented and intelligent performer, plan to see Lucille Carr-Kaffashan and Finding Home at Don’t Tell Mama on May 17^th, May 22^nd or May 29^th.

Gloria Taplin
Cabaret Scenes
May 4, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org