Rebecca Spencer: Fair Warning

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Rebecca Spencer

Fair Warning

Upstairs at Vitello’s, Studio City, CA, August 15, 2014

Reviewed by Les Traub for Cabaret Scenes

Rebecca-Spencer-Fair-Warning-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212Rebecca Spencer’s powerful soprano could have overwhelmed Vitello’s, but she wisely scaled it to the size of the room and the material she was singing. Her unique accompaniment by Musical Director Philip Fortenberry, combined with an imaginative selection of songs and stunning vocal performance, resulted in a joyous musical experience.

The unusual choice for an opener of “Speak Softly, Love” (Rota/Kusik) was delivered in a soft, haunting voice that created a dark mysterious mood, as she emerged from the dark into her light. Echoing that mood, Fortenberry punctuated his accompaniment with touches of Rachmanioff’s Prelude in C-Sharp Minor. This pairing of standards and contemporary songs with classical references continued effectively throughout the show. Fortenberry’s counterpoint melody of Aaron Copeland’s “Simple Gifts” nicely complemented Rebecca’s beautiful take on “The Girl Who Used to Be Me” (Hamlisch/the Bergmans) from Shirley Valentine. Some lighter fare, such as “Eat, Drink and Be Mary” (Keith Thompson) and her closer, “Home Sweet Heaven” (Martin/Gray) from High Spirits, served to add some variety to her repertoire.

The entertaining patter about her association with the songs and her musical theater career provided just the right personal touch to the evening. This was her L.A. solo cabaret debut, and a wonderful start it was.

 

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Les Traub

Les Traub has been covering the cabaret scene for over twenty years. He is a co-founder and President of Cabaret West and has produced cabaret shows at the Jazz Bakery, Cinegrill, Gardenia, El Portal Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse and at UCLA. He co-produced and wrote a Sammy Cahn tribute show at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. He is Chairman of the Board of Musical Theatre Guild, where he co- produced Sail Away, High Spirits, Little Mary Sunshine and Street Scene at the Alex Theatre. He has lectured on cabaret in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Connecticut. .