One would think that a couple of board members from the Manhattan
Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) would be pretty competent singers and you’d be right. The third performance
of the four-night run was the charm for Kim Grogg and Jim Speake when they happily took the stage for a show to benefit the
U.S. Postal Service’s Letters to Santa Program.The sub-title of the fun performance, From
Sondheim to Sedaka with a Sprinkling of Santa,did, in fact, have a song or two from Sondheim, including “Rose’s
Turn” from Gypsy, although his lyrics were nowhere to be found under the banner “Ethel’s
Turn,” as in Ethel Mertz, Lucy’s long-suffering sidekick in I Love Lucy. On the
other hand, Sedaka’s words were there for all to hear in “Lonely Christmas in New York,” doing double duty
as part of a holiday set. The well-diversified program ranged from Irving Berlin to Carole King to Barry Manilow to
Ned Washington and numerous others in between.
Grogg, who has an expressive and seasoned voice which occasionally
reflects Amanda McBroom, is an Indiana native with over 100 theater productions to her credit and five different cabaret shows
over the past five years. She did a particularly effective job with King’s “Tapestry,” one of the
biggest hits of the early 1970s. Speake grew up on a cotton farm in Alabama and sounds it, if only slightly. But, with
several years of theater training on his resume, he reminds one more of John Denver than Randy Owen. His renditions
of songs such as “Sweet Life” (Barry Manilow) and “Crazy for You” (John Bettis and Jon Lind) conveyed
a voice that was friendly, mellow and warm. Their singing styles fit the program perfectly, especially on the duets
with Grogg and the trios, whenever their Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins joined in. The harmonies on “Elephant
Fly” (Oliver Wallace and Ned Washington), “Wink and a Smile” (Marc Shaiman and Ramsey McLean) and “Count
Your Blessings” (Berlin) were marvelous.
A highlight of the evening was a sparkling duet/trio for
“White Christmas Movie Medley,” with Speake assuming the Bing Crosby part while Grogg channeled Rosemary Clooney.
“White Christmas” was the centerpiece, of course, although there were snatches of “Blue Skies,” “Sisters”
and “Mandy” making their presence known by way of Watkins’ piano flourishes. Superb support was provided
by Tim Lykins (drums) and Julie Danielson (bass), enhancing every moment of the entire show.
The delighted
audience had essentially gotten an old-fashioned song and dance team – a bit of vaudeville, some soft shoe and perhaps
even a little clean burlesque. As directed by Lennie Watts, Kim Grogg and Jim Speake welcomed in the holiday season
with a lot of charm, spirit and pizzazz.
Jerry Osterberg
Cabaret Scenes
December 10, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org
