Camille Diamond
Over the Moon… On Pluto Transit
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, February 25, 2024
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Photo: Conor Weiss
Recent Mama’s Next BIG Act! semi-finalist Camille Diamond has created her first full cabaret show, Over the Moon… On Pluto Transit, and a lovely show it was. Using the unique theme of the planets and their effect on our lives, she took that idea and personalized it. Under the guidance of director Lennie Watts, she opened her heart to the audience as she reviewed aspects of her life through her stories and her songs, which were a wonderfully varied collection. Diamond possesses a soaring voice and a great sense of humor, and she added some surprising dance steps as well. These were all on display during the evening.
She opened with a seamless medley of “No Matter What You Sing You Are” (Berry Gordy/Henry “Hank” Cosby), “Aquarius” (James Rado/Gerome Ragni/Galt MacDermot), and “Interplanet Janet” (Lynn Ahrens). This was a perfect opening for this show with its mix of joy, humor, and thematic relevance. It was followed by a very clever revision of Kander and Ebb’s “Roxie,” retitled “Pluto,” with new lyrics by Diamond and well-delivered dance moves à la Bob Fosse. Pluto is a vital part of her horoscope, hence this explanatory number. She followed with something in a more traditional vein: Peter Mills’ “Cautiously Optimistic”; it allowed Diamond to show off her ability to build a song and offer it to the audience like a glowing gem.
Keeping up with every shift in mood was her excellent musical team of music director/pianist Steven Ray Watkins, bassist Tom Hubbard, and drummer Don Kelly. They embraced each musical style with expertise, from the surprisingly soft, moody interpretation of a medley of “Paint It Black” (Mick Jagger/Keith Richards) and “Back to Black” (Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson)—not names usually associated with cabaret—to the joyous sarcasm of “You Mustn’t Be Discouraged” (Jule Styne/Comden & Green), complete with some Michael Bennett-inspired dance steps.
Diamond showed a great ability throughout the show to deliver lyrics with both sensitivity and understanding. She displayed notable artistry in her performance of “When October Goes” (Johnny Mercer/Barry Manilow), a true highlight of the evening. A blend of “Circle of Life” (Elton John/Tim Rice) and “A Child Is Born” (Thad Jones/Alec Wilder) was grand cabaret. In the first of these she proved that she didn’t need a parade of elephants across the stage to make the song a standout. A truly touching moment came when she shared Stevie Wonder’s “Happier Than the Morning Sun” with her daughter, Lily Krebs. Diamond is a valuable new member of the cabaret community with much more to come.
