Gregory & Renee Toroian
P.S… I Love You
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, August 6, 2017
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg for Cabaret Scenes
Husband and wife Gregory and Renee Toroian are a study in contrasts: she’s a sunny, perky singer; he’s a cultivated curmudgeon who is a wonderful, versatile pianist. But he is also a reluctant vocalist, complaining about how many songs she forced him to sing, grumbling and mugging to the audience. Actually, he has a pleasant voice, though it doesn’t always blend so well with her more lyrical soprano.
The theme of the evening was love songs, both traditional and less so. Their attitude ranged from deeply emotional to highly sarcastic. Including Renee’s parents’ wedding song, the title number, was a lovely touch. The night’s selections ranged from Broadway classics—the George & Ira Gershwin “Mine” and the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein “The Song Is You”—to the tremendously moving “Practical Arrangement” from The Last Ship (Sting). There was also the very originally titled “My Life Would Suck Without You” (Max Martin/Lukasz Gottwald/Claude Kelly/Kelly Clarkson). And the distaff half of the team constructed very clever lyrics to create “The Text Song,” utilizing familiar melodies from “Talk to Me, Baby” and “I Won’t Dance.”
Backing up the marital duo were bassist Tom Hubbard, drummer Tony Tedesco, and back-up vocalist Janelle Rintrona, who has a dynamic voice all her own. The Toroians offered up a charming afternoon for all.
