What prompts a multi-award-winning actress – someone who has conquered stage, film, and television – to now tackle cabaret? In the case of Bebe Neuwirth, making her cabaret debut in May at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, the question mark remains.

True, she displays a husky, appealing, sort-of-singing voice. True, she offers a glimpse, within the performer, of a surprisingly youthful woman with quiet self-confidence and humor. And, not surprisingly, she brings particular skills in revealing a song’s character, and, in her musical-theater selections, in revealing a song’s character’s character. Examples include her passionate renditions of Weill/Brecht’s “Bilbao Song” and “Sarabaya Johnny” as well as Kander and Ebb’s tough-philosophical “But the World Goes ‘Round.” She reveals, as well, a delightful sense of fun as she sings Kander and Ebb’s “Ring Them Bells,” the tale of two romantics who meet half a globe away from home. However, it’s the slower ballads that don’t quite make use of her talents nor distinguish her from the hordes of other cabaret ladies wandering through the city’s clubs. With a program tailored to her particular gifts – and with an accompanist with a not-so-heavy hand on the piano keys – she should come back a winner. 

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
May 20, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org