Stacy Sullivan

Since You Asked

November 14 at 7:00 pm

Metropolitan Room
34 W. 22nd St., NYC
212.206.0440

Here’s Rob Lester’s review of this show:

After fascinating Peggy Lee and Marian McPartland bio-surveys, Stacy Sullivan has generated a show surveying generations of her family.  She tells tales of her grandparents’ and parents’ attitudes and priorities; it is, leaping ahead in the dynasty of DNA, directed by daughter Savannah Brown. Perhaps still clinging to singing and sensibilities à la Lee, Stacy’s voice is smoky, manner mysterious and minimalist, masterfully mesmerizing. Projecting someone lost in thought/memories, haunted, in a haze, digging inward, she—frustratingly—reaches out less to us.  Some pieces tend to end with repeated lines intoned as stunned self-hypnosis.  I urge more variety.

Coming off multiple major cabaret awards, in an act named for Judy Collins’s song, sensitivity reigns; two thoughtful David Hajdu lyrics captivate. Unexpectedly, a slowed-down “This Land Is Your Land”—unleashed from sing-along, head-bobbing status—is moving.  With “Too Darn Hot” comes welcome playfulness and chemistry with excellent bandmembers Matthew Wattanabe (piano), Jamie Mohamdein (bass) and Troy Fanin (guitar/arranger/musical director).  Weather is a unifying theme, with a prime Stacy Sullivan CD track, “Cold Enough to Snow” (Alan Menken/Stephen Schwartz), revived—strong in autobiographical context.  I saw Since You’ve Asked at its opening; I think it will open up more …and blossom.